The Councilman at-large Division A chair is being contested between Councilwoman District III Wendy Benedetto and Erick St. Amant, both Republicans.
Benedetto says she feels the time is right to take the next step and attempt to make the move from District III Councilwoman to an at-large seat.
“It’s time to spread my wings and go for it all,” she said. “Our parish needs a lot more things to be done, and I want to do whatever I can to make those things happen.”
She is a native of New Orleans who has lived in Destrehan for more than 25 years. She is a full time realtor with Latter & Blum and a past president and board member of the Destrehan Booster Club
Benedetto cited upgrading drainage infrastructure and upgrades to the hurricane protection levees as a chief goal.“We still need upgrades, and we have to stay constantly on this,” she said. “I feel I’ve already established a good rapport (with decision-makers) and want to keep that going. I’ve been to Washington to meet with senators. We have to keep this at the forefront and get the funding we need for levee protection. We need it for the west bank and the east bank.
“I’m already educated on it, working on the council for the past eight years. I have the edge of knowing what is going on right now.”
She said another thing the council must stay vigilant of is keeping flood insurance rates where they are, noting that has been a major point of emphasis during her term as councilwoman over the past few years.
“Could it be better? Absolutely,” she said. “But a lot of people would have really (seen a major increase) if not for the work we did fighting against that.
“I hope to be a person that will work with our district councilmen and be there for them, someone with experience who can help our new councilmen reach their decisions.”St. Amant has spent time in the insurance business, and also worked in economic development in St. John Parish for 10 years.
He believes that, if elected, he can help the council become more unified in its endeavors.
“I’ve always been a people person,” St. Amant said. “A community oriented person … my little group (The Oldies but Goodies) has donated thousands of dollars helping people out. I think my expertise, my strength, is really bringing people together to get along. There’s a lot of fighting going on (the council) from what I see. We need more togetherness to move the parish forward.”
A Destrehan resident and Destrehan High School alumnus, St. Amant echoed many of Benedetto’s goals for what is needed to help the parish move forward, including controlling flood insurance costs and bolstering levee protection and drainage. Managing the budget is one way, he says, to further the parish’s overall health.
Some of the spending going on, these contracts … with my business experience, I have the ability to look at these contracts and make sure there’s no wasteful spending,” St. Amant said.
He has never run for office before, but notes he’s had roles leading political campaigns before, so he’s not completely new to the game. St. Amant also noted that he’s in a unique situation to devote his time to council business, given he is retired.
“I can get things done,” he said. “When people call, they want to hear you, see you, and get their answers. I would be a full-time councilman, and I’ll be able to do that.”
He cited his background as a community-oriented citizen as evidence of his commitment to his fellow residents.
“If people look at my background, they’ll understand I’m not in it for money, or power, none of it. I’m proud of our group, Oldies but Goodies, that we started. We’ve donated $285,000 to causes in need of our help. It’s just growing. If I can bring people together for these organizations and events, I feel I can do it for the whole parish.”
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