Morgan City voters to elect four to serve on city council
October 16, 2012Lockport council contenders offer view of issues
October 16, 2012
Voters of Lafourche Parish’s 10th Ward elect port commissioners to specific seats for six-year terms. The nine divisions, lettered A through I, are not governed by specific boundaries, so candidates are free to run for the seat of their choosing.
Three candidates are vying for Seat A on the Greater Lafourche Port Commission.
Armojen “Buddy” Cantrelle Jr. and Roy Gisclair, of Larose and Cut Off, respectively, are challenging 12-year incumbent Harris “Chuckie” Cheramie, of Galliano.
Cheramie is a 47-year-old Democrat who owns CAL Towing Inc., a pull boat company. He said that if re-elected, he would continue to focus on bringing business to Port Fourchon, which creates a “trickle-down effect” for the economy throughout the 10th Ward.
“That’s always been the priority for us – creating jobs,” Cheramie said. “It’s all about future development, the docks and what we can provide (businesses).”
Cantrelle, a 51-year-old operations manager for Kevin Gros Offshore, identifies himself as an independent. He said the top issue facing the port commission was the lack of an elevated highway from Golden Meadow to Leeville but said he would like to help develop a vessel traffic system to improve safety.
“What every vessel owner, no matter how big or small, wants to be comfortable with is knowing that whatever port their vessel is going to is a safe port to go into and come out of,” Cantrelle said. “I think in the near future the port has to very seriously consider a vessel traffic system, where we can get the vessels in and out of the port in a safe manner.”
Gisclair is an 84-year-old Democrat retired from construction work. A supervisor of some port projects, he said he thinks the port commission is “doing a pretty good job,” but he would like to cut down on the amount of money the commission doles out for per diems.
“I think (the commission) is spending too much money on some stuff and not enough on the others,” Gisclair said. “They’re paying too much money to people who do nothing.”
Gisclair said he would work well with the eight other commissioners, which he accused the incumbent of not doing.
“The man I’m opposing, he needs to be changed. I don’t think he’s doing any good at all for the port. He’s always against everything else,” Gislcair said. “That’s about it.”
Cantrelle said his 13 years of experience as an ocean-going tug captain en route to ports in West Africa, among others, and 34 years in the marine transportation business sets him apart from Cheramie and Gisclair.
“I’ve operated out of a lot of different ports,” he said. “I’ve been in the marine industry my whole life, and I think I can help as a commissioner.”
Cheramie also said he’s been to ports along the Gulf and East Coasts, adding that he travelled to Central and South American ports, as well. He said his experience in the maritime industry and as a port commissioner set him apart from his opponents.
“I’ve been in the marine business practically all my life,” Cheramie said. “I have the experience. … I’ve been in the boat business. I feel I have the experience, I have the knowledge and I have the business background.”
Cheramie was first elected to the port commission in 2000 with 51.6 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 2006 by a margin of 119 votes.
Two candidates run for Seat B
Jessie Cheramie and Perry Gisclair are the candidates for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission’s Seat B.
Several attempts to reach both candidates were unsuccessful.
Cheramie, a Golden Meadow Democrat, is the challenger.
Gisclair, a Cut Off Democrat, is a one-term incumbent. He won the seat in 2006 with 51 percent of the vote in a three-person primary.
Insurance costs, federal regs top Div. C race
A 39-year-old insurance agent and investment advisor in Cut Off is challenging a two-term incumbent who said he has never missed a meeting for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission Division C seat.
Republican Kris Gaudet is seeking Democrat Jimmy Lafont’s seat.
Lafont, a 58-year-old oyster fisherman and office manager for a boat company, said he would continue to use his influence as a port commissioner to fight against the federal government’s “frivolous” regulation of the offshore industry.
“It’s horrible, the regulations,” the commission’s vice president said. “Right now, it’s even going to the grass cutter. It’s not only the marine and the port. … It’s ridiculous.”
Lafont said he is largely focused on physical examinations the United States Coast Guard is requiring of offshore workers.
Gaudet said his top priority is continuing development and expansion of the port. With one eye on the future, the challenger said he would push to expand the port’s focus to include shipping, as well as the development of natural gas.
“We need to continue (expand and develop) in a way where we bring in businesses and more commerce and more diverse businesses and look at opportunities for shipping and liquid natural gas, in particular,” the challenger said.
Gaudet, who received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwestern State University, said his financial background gives him a better understanding of financial questions facing the port, particularly as it relates to insurance.
“I have a very strong financial background in regards to looking at budgets, making financial decisions and looking at it from an investment standpoint,” Gaudet said. “I think that as an insurance professional myself, there’s no one better equipped identify opportunities or identify whether or not we’re paying too much, or should pay less.”
Lafont said the track record he has built over his 12 years as a port commissioner allows voters to know who they’re electing.
“I did my job, (which is to) represent the people of the 10th ward,” Lafont said. “I rolled back the millage four times to help them save on their property taxes. I never missed a meeting. I was elected vice president by a landslide. I held my head up high and did my job.”
Lafont won the seat with 57 percent of the vote in 2000 and was re-elected by a margin of 39 votes in 2006.
Gaudet has never held elected office. His campaign for the District 8 seat on the Lafourche Parish Council in 2007 fell short in a runoff by a 313-vote margin.
Voters of Lafourche Parish’s 10th Ward elect port commissioners to six-year terms. The nine divisions, lettered A through I, are not governed by specific boundaries, so candidates are free to run for the seat of their choosing.
Newest commissioner seeks re-election to Seat G
UPDATED Friday, Oct. 19 with comments from Dirk Callais
Eighteen months after winning a special election, John Melancon Jr. is defending his seat against challenger Dirk Callais.
Callais, a 44-year-old Cut Off Republican, said the frequency of offshore drilling permits and public access to Fourchon Beach need to be addressed. He said those solutions can arise with better communication.
“(It’s) just being active, just getting out there, talking to people, which I believe is one of my biggest assets,” said the salesman for an oilfield company. “I know a lot of people, and I can talk to anyone.”
Melancon, a 52-year-old Golden Meadow Republican, said his primary goal is to increase the depth of Port Fouchon’s channel. This can be accomplished with coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he said.
“We have to come further inland to build areas for these (300-passenger) vessels to disembark and embark,” Melancon said. “We’ve got to bring our depth between 26 and 30 feet, which is very costly.”
The incumbent said he deserves to be re-elected because he has the wherewithal to inspire various interests to join together as one.
“A politician is someone who can bring all parties together to accomplish a goal, and I feel I have that strength,” Melancon said.
Callais said his experience working offshore, at Fourchon’s docks and in sales have given him a broad perspective on what tenants at many ports desire. The challenger for Seat G said he’s been to “every port on the Gulf Coast” and various ports overseas.
“Overall, I have a well-rounded view of the port and what the customers are looking for – the tenants, just from speaking to them on a daily basis,” he said.
Melancon won a special election in April 2011 with 53.2 percent of the vote to replace his late father, John Melancon Sr., on the commission. The elder Melancon had served the commission for 15 years.
Voters of Lafourche Parish’s 10th Ward elect port commissioners to six-year terms. The nine divisions, lettered A through I, are not governed by specific boundaries, so candidates are free to run for the seat of their choosing.
Roadway infrastructure highlights Div. I GLPC race
The two candidates running for Seat I on the Greater Lafourche Port Commission agree that improving roadway infrastructure to Port Fourchon is of utmost importance.
Robert Danos, a 51-year-old maintenance worker at Crosby Tugs, is challenging 14-year incumbent Ervin “Vin” Bruce.
Danos, a Democrat, said construction of an elevated highway from Golden Meadow to Leeville, which would provide a safe route to and from the port, is his primary concern. He also said he wants La. Highway 3235 from Larose to Golden Meadow to be resurfaced.
While he doesn’t have much latitude as a commissioner to get these goals accomplished himself, he said he would work to forge partnerships with elected officials and the LA-1 Coalition. “I think every organization down here should band together and work as one and speed up the process,” Danos said.
Bruce, an 80-year-old musician living in Cut Off, agreed that the lack of an elevated highway is the biggest threat facing the port. The Democrat echoed Danos’ means of ensuring reliable transit to the Gulf of Mexico deep-water energy hub.
“Ten years from now, it will be worse than it is now,” the incumbent said. “(We need to work) with our representatives, our senators and our director.”
The incumbent said his experience differentiates himself from Danos. Bruce cited work with former Sen. A.O. Rappelet, instrumental in the port’s genesis, as the source for his mental notes taken over the course of the port’s evolution.
Bruce pointed to the fact that he ran unopposed in the last election cycle as an indication that the public is happy with his work as a commissioner. “I guess they like the way I’m working with the port,” Bruce said.
The challenger said his passion is helping the people who work at the port and the 10th Ward residents who rely on its economic benefits in their daily lives.
“I have a passion for the port and a passion for the people who live in this area, and I want to do the best for the people who would elect me to the commission,” Danos said.
Bruce first landed the seat with a 13-vote margin in a special election in 1998. He won re-election with 68 percent of the vote in 2000 and ran unopposed in 2006.
Voters of Lafourche Parish’s 10th Ward elect port commissioners to six-year terms. The nine divisions, lettered A through I, are not governed by specific boundaries, so candidates are free to run for the seat of their choosing.
Among commissioners duties with the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, members are charged with overseeing activity at Port Fourchon.
