It was in 1907 that the Lavandourains claimed autonomy from the commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas on which they depended. After 4 years of sometimes difficult discussions, the Council of State finally adopted a bill to make Le Lavandou a commune and it was the President of the Republic, Raymond Poincaré, who signed the decree dated 25 May 1913. Since this event, many elected officials have succeeded each other to manage this territory of 2965 ha which gradually passed from a hamlet of 974 fishermen to a seaside resort of 6047 inhabitants and which became the summer residence of the former president of the Republic at Cap Nègre. Since 2013 Le Lavandou is part of the Mediterranean intercommunality - Porte des Maures
Because of their skills and disinterest, many of La Lavandou’s mayors were given departmental or regional mandates as the role (unpaid) was voluntary and only for candidates free from want. Most of them were educated humanists who worked for the common good, without recognition, and very few of them were born in La Lavandou. Over the course of the mandates, the topography of the locations changed massively, especially in terms of accommodation which went from luxury villas to collective housing; from the public arena to private occupation of the coastline and the development of Le Lavandou port. Mass tourism opened the doors to developers signed off by magistrates who were constantly in search of new revenue streams.
Marius Dorie was born on 26/02/1887 in Jard (Vendée) and died in Le Lavandou on 07/04/1982. Pharmacist, SFIO activist from 1908, he was twice mayor of Lavandou (1945-1955, 1959-1971), General Councillor of Var (1945-1971), member of the Rotary, epicurean, humanist, great traveler to whom we owe the coat of arms of the town of Lavandou, author of some literary works including "Lettres du Japon - Voyage aux Indes" published in 1964, one of the last signed copies was sold at auction in 2010 in Paris
