Ama man retires after 40 years on civil service board

Jimmy Breaux was joined by Dayna Parker and Matt Jewell at a retirement celebration.

“The first parish president, Kevin Friloux, asked me after he got elected if I’d like to serve three years on the Civil Service Board because I had union experience and he felt like it would be a good fit … that lasted 40 years.”

James “Jimmy” Breaux, an Ama resident, fondly recalls how he first got involved with the St. Charles Parish Civil Service Board four decades ago. It is a post that he gave up this month because of health concerns, but one that he said he will always treasure.

“The employees needed somebody to represent them,” Breaux said. “I felt like I was the representative of the employees, but I also took into consideration the parish. My years of service give me a sense of accomplishment for sure. I enjoyed serving on the board and I hope I have served the parish well.”

Breaux served as Chairman of the Board from 2004-2010 and 2018-2021 and served as Vice-Chairman of the Board from 1987-1994, 2001-2003 and 2014-2017.

Sandra Zimmer, the parish’s former personnel officer of 30 years, said Breaux’s tenure was the epitome of community service.

“Being on the Civil Service Board is pretty much a thankless job,” she said laughing. “It’s not one where you get a lot of praise, but he loves St. Charles Parish and he was very interested in who was in office and what they were doing.”

Zimmer recalled how one year Breaux won the Monte M. Lemann Award, an award given out annually by the Louisiana Civil Service League. The prestigious award is given to five individuals outside of the state classified service who made the greatest contributions to the advancement of Louisiana’s merit system of public employment. It is named for Monte M. Lemann, a longtime supporter and defender of civil service in Louisiana.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to work with Jimmy all those years,” Zimmer said.

Dayna Parker, the current parish personnel officer, agreed.

“His encouragement and guidance, often through handwritten notes, has yielded me a solid foundation to more effectively administer the personnel system for the parish,” Parker said. “It has truly been a pleasure and a benefit to learn from his vast experience. Jimmy’s loyalty, dedication and professionalism established an exemplary standard during his tenure as a member of the St. Charles Parish Civil Service Board.”

Parker said Breaux held the position on the board very close to his heart.

“He feels very strongly about the Civil Service System and its benefits to employees and St. Charles parish government,” she said. “He served with a true understanding of his role to represent the public interest in matters of personnel administration in the services of parish government. “

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

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