Cochran says he’s only candidate with experience managing $160M budget

Seeking his second term as parish president, Larry Cochran says he’s the only candidate with the executive leadership experience to manage St. Charles Parish’s $160 million budget and nearly 500 employees.

“I have demonstrated that I can work with officials, regardless of party,” Cochran said. “The people of St. Charles Parish want their parish president to focus on the important issues that face our parish and to deliver results. The only way to build coalitions with our federal and state partners is by leaving party labels at the door, saying no to D.C. style politics, and coming to the table to solve St. Charles Parish’s challenges.

If re-elected, Cochran said he will continue to focus on hurricane and flood protection, smart growth and infrastructure.

“We must do all that we can to protect our residents and businesses and their property by focusing on flood prevention measures like levees, pump stations and drainage,” he said.

To accommodate smart growth, Cochran said it is necessary to invest in infrastructure and improve quality of life.

“St. Charles Parish is a place where people want to live, work and raise a family,” he said. “We have some of the best schools in the state, our crime rate is low and we offer residents the ability to be in close proximity to urban areas while maintaining a rural lifestyle.”

Cochran’s top goals include 100-year flood protection, increasing and improving pumping capacity on both the East and West banks, continuing to improve the parish’s drainage system to mitigate flood risk and protect residents and businesses, and grow wastewater and waterworks systems to facilitate growth. He also wants to make significant investments in sports and recreational facilities.

“We need to keep our eye on the ball and keep moving forward,” he said of levee protection. “We will continue to make our own investments and fight for funding from the federal and state government to get this done. I have the relationships with officials of all political parties to get this done.”

Among his achievements Cochran lists more than 18,000 feet of new levee on the West Bank levee system.

[pullquote]“We have done so much, but there is more to do.” — Larry Cochran[/pullquote]

“For the first time in history, we have 7-1/2 feet of levee from Davis Diversion to Sunset Levee,” he said. “I’m proud that my administration kept its eye on the ball and never lost focus on this most important task to protect our residents and businesses from hurricane and storm water, and we will never lose focus on our ultimate goal – to achieve 100 -year flood protection on both sides of the Mississippi River.”

Cochran said his administration also made significant infrastructure improvements, including resurfacing 132,686 feet of roads and streets, upgrading wastewater and waterworks facilities to accommodate new development, and improved parks and recreation facilities.

They’ve accomplished these tasks while being fiscally responsible, he said.

When he came into office, Cochran said the parish had a general fund balance of $6 million. Today, he said the figure has doubled with the highest general fund balance in 10 years.

“We have done so much, but there is more to do,” Cochran said. “I have spent my entire adult life, mostly as a volunteer, serving the people of this parish. My passion has always been community service. I am a problem solver and I feel like I am the most qualified person in this race to solve the challenges we face and continue to move forward.”

Who is Larry Cochran?

  • At age 57, Larry Cochran has three children and two grandchildren.
  • He served 17 years as St. Rose fire chief.
  • Born in Harvey, he has lived in St. Rose since age 14.
  • Cochran served as a parish councilman eight years and four years as parish president.

 

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