The St. Charles Parish Council District 3 race pits a pair of Destrehan residents against one another as Republicans Dick Gibbs and Webb Jay IV battle it out for votes.
Gibbs believes in promoting fiscal responsibility and better use of allocated funds, primarily aimed at fixing the levees and drainage issues. One way to do that, he believes, is to reduce the size of government.
“St. Charles has a bloated government,” Gibbs said. “Six hundred employees and a $150 million budget. Government is growing and so are our taxes.
“We have a major issue with sewer and drainage in my district that has been ignored. We have a state-of-the-art pumping station but poor sewer and drainage to accompany it. I will see to it that we get an overhaul and upgrade without a mileage or tax increase.”
Naturally, he notes, balancing the budget would prove to be a chore if council members cannot agree on a course of action.
“We need to focus on bringing the council together,” Gibbs said. “The present council has appeared to be dysfunctional and could not agree on anything. St. Charles Parish deserves better and with my leadership we will move in a positive direction.”
Gibbs, who is married with four children, believes he’s the best man for the job, in part, because of his experience as Chairman of Planning and Zoning for seven of the past eight years, where he was elected unanimously as chairman all seven times.
“I have had to work closely with the office of the president and very close with the council,” he said. “I have had to make tough decisions on neighborhoods as well as businesses with much success. I have had considerable success as a businessman for 30 years. I know what it takes to make payroll, balance budgets and develop a strong P&L statement.”
Latter & Blum realtor Jay Webb IV says he seeks the District 3 seat simply because he wants to make his home region a better place.
“This community is my home,” he said. “I have dedicated my entire adult life to helping others. I made the decision to run because I care about this community and I want to be an advocate for all of the wonderful people here in District 3.”
Though this is Jay’s first time running for a political office, he believes he has displayed proven leadership abilities, cultivated from various aspects of his life.
“I have been called a team builder,” he said. “I am very confident that what makes me a good candidate for this office is my ability to build consensus and work well with others. In every aspect of my life – ministry, civic association president, and as a real estate broker I have been called upon to lead others and form teams.”The biggest ongoing issue that he seeks to change for District 3 is improving drainage infrastructure as pertains to surrounding hurricane protection levees. He also cited improving recreation facilities and further encouraging their use.
Jay is a Destrehan High School alumnus who graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in religion with a minor in Christian counseling from Liberty University. He is currently attending Regent University, School of Divinity, where he is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree in Church Ministry and Theology.
He notes that as president of the Civic Association since 2011, he has helped to increase membership 600 percent.“I created a new user friendly website, rebuilt the board of directors, brought back the OCA 5K Race, helped to start both the OCA Brunch with Santa and the St. Charles Parish Crawfish Cook-off Festival,” Jay said.
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