Winners talk about plans for their next terms in office
Julia Fisher-Perrier says she’s feeling lucky.
When the qualifying period ended last week, Fisher-Perrier was among four candidates with no opposition, meaning she’ll be District 7 councilwoman again once the state Secretary of State verifies these candidates this month.
“I’m feeling very lucky right now and very pleased,” she said of getting a second term on the St. Charles Parish Council and again being without opposition. “I’m feeling a huge sigh of relief. I was shocked to see I was the only one on the council running unopposed.”
Fisher-Perrier said she intends to stay focused on her priorities.
“I’d like to thank the residents of the parish for having the confidence in me to do this job for the next four years and look forward to continuing my work here as I serve as District 7 Councilman in our great parish.”
Her top priority is the levees, as it has been with the council overall. She wants to continuing working on roads and drainage “being up to par,” as well as highway safety.
She also wants to continue driving economic development, particularly small business growth.
Promoting quality of life is another priority for Fisher-Perrier.
“I want to keep maintaining what we’ve got,” she said of her achievements in office and under a new parish president coming into office this year.
Four candidates are vying for Parish President V. J. St. Pierre’s position, who has served two consecutive terms.Calling it humbling, Tab Troxler, the parish’s tax assessor, also regained his office without opposition.
“I am thankful. You do feel like there’s a sense of confidence about what we’re doing,” Troxler said of his second term in office. “It’s a real honor for the staff.”
Elected nearly three years ago, Troxler said he stepped right into the flood insurance controversy affecting property values in Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands, but his experience as the parish EMS director provided the crossover knowledge necessary to assist these residents.
Now, he’s contending with the fiscal impact of plummeting oil prices and legislative efforts to end the inventory tax and credit, which could substantially hurt parish tax revenue.
“I find that we’re really on top of issues,” he said. “I’ve got a good staff that operates like a think tank – discussing what’s coming and what’s going.”
Troxler said this was additionally made possible through relationships with public agencies like the Sheriff’s Office and school system.
He is equally pleased with how quickly he has modernized technology in the tax assessor’s office, as well as better educating his staff on assessing property with best practices and transparency.
“I want to make sure my staff is educated and professional,” Troxler said.
Sheriff Greg Champagne also has been re-elected without opposition.
“I’m obviously ecstatic about it,” Champagne said.
Champagne said Capt. Pat Yoes’ research shows he is only the second parish sheriff to be elected to six terms since Leon Vial, grandfather of parish attorney Sunny Vial.
“First thing I did was send an e-mail to all the employees and thanked them,” he said. “I hope I provided them with everything they need to be successful. I really give credit to my deputies and employees because we’d never be re-elected without us doing the job. The public is obviously happy with us, and I thank the public and my family for putting up with me.”
While it would be difficult to pinpoint a single achievement, Champagne said he is pleased with the focus on training that he defined as “the key to our success.”
He added, “My job, as I see it, is to protect the life, liberty and property of our citizens to the best of my ability. As I do every four years, we will be reviewing and evaluating each of the divisions of the office to see what initiatives and programs are working and what needs improvement. I am always focused on improvement.”
In the parish, Coroner Brian Brogle, R-Destrehan, also won with no opposition.
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve as coroner for the parish,” Brogle said.
Entering his third term, Brogle said they plan to expand use of the East Bank office to ensure emergency presence on both sides of the river.
“We’ve pretty much increased computerization so, basically, we’re just trying to improve facilities,” he said.
On the legislative level, state Sen. Gary Smith, R-Montz, and Reps. Randal Gaines, D-LaPlace, and Greg Miller, R-Norco, have been re-elected without opposition. Smith represents the 19th Senate District, Miller the 56th House District and Gaines the 57th House District. All three cover parts of St. Charles parishes and St. John the Baptist.
Sen. Troy Brown, the incumbent in the 2nd Senate District, will face against Chris Delpit, D-Gonzales, and Eric Weil, no party-Donaldsonville. The 2nd District includes portions of Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John and West Baton Rouge parishes.Parish races with opposition:
Parish presidentLarry Cochran, D-St. Rose, qualified for the race along with John Cornwell, D-Luling, Terry Authement, R-Boutte, and Carolyn K. Schexnaydre, R-Destrehan, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. Cochran is currently District IV councilman and Schexnaydre serves as council at-large Division A representative.Parish President V.J. St. Pierre completed his second consecutive term.Clerk of CourtIncumbent Lance Marino, R-Norco, and Sonny Savoie, D-Paradis Parish Council
Division A at large – Incumbent Wendy Benedetto, R-Destrehan, and Erick St. Amant, R-Destrehan
Division B at large – Paul Hogan, R-Des Allemands, and Jarvis Lewis, D-Luling
District 1 – Milton Allemand Jr. of Hahnville, No party, and Terrell Wilson, D-Hahnville
District 2 – Mary Keller Clulee, R-Luling, Monique Gros, R-Luling, and Bryce Steinlage, R-Luling
District 3 – Dick Gibbs, R-Destrehan, and Webb Jay IV,R-Destrehan
District 4 – Oliver George Dufrene Jr., D-Paradis, and William “Billy” Woodruff, R-Des Allemands
District 5 – Keith Adams, D-St. Rose; Marilyn Bellock, D-St. Rose, and Bobby Ducote, R-St. Rose
District 6 – Traci Ackerman-Fletcher of Norco, No Party, and Keith Schexnayder, D-NorcoJustice of the Peace – District 1 – Edna Campbell Bridges, D-Hahnville, and Aleshia Smith, D-Hahnville.
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