Post by zoe10850 on Jun 27, 2015 14:58:12 GMT -6
Wow...a chance for a new mayor-president and a new Sheriff. Past time IMO.
Both are leaving a financial mess from what I can determine. The Parish is broke (but!!! we have traffic cameras!!) Who best to address this? Joel R did not do such a good job in legislature the past 8 years.
Even Governor Blankstare left a substantial surplus, only to be spent by our legislature (and Governor ??). Dee Stanley certainly has a good working knowledge of Parish Govt., but I have no idea where he or Robideaux stand on virtually any issue. May be another popularity contest, which of course does no good for the Parish.
Sheriff Neustrom has had a bad last year with great family tragedy, and my best wishes to he and his wife. On the bad side, he has opened a huge facility, paid for with bonded indebtedness, which the office cannot afford. I note that the Sheriff's fleet is stocked with Ford Crown Vic's, which have not been manufactured in years, hence, the fleet is dated and worn out. New Sheriff will have to grapple with those type issues, which translated, means more money is desperately needed. A sales tax will no doubt be needed, and the Parish must address an overcrowded parish prison.
Years ago, I wanted the Parish to purchase the Super K-Mart on Ambassador Caffery and some land behind the building to build a new Courthouse complex and prison. But of course, the Courthouse officials (read judges and clerk of court) want a fancy new structure like the new federal courthouse; you know, inaccessible to public, tight security, underground parking for officials (who wants to get wet in rain or get in a hot car), not much public parking etc. Not going to happen anytime soon.
Sheriff's candidates; a retired state trooper (yes, let's give him another retirement), a current deputy sheriff (with a legal background), a current chief of police (former deputy), and another lawyer who also worked for federal government - that is two strikes against him for me). That leaves a choice of two for me; I want no one who was a part of the federal system, a lawyer, or retired state bureaucrat. Enough is enough.