NEWSMAKERS
January 27, 2016
Longtime Vandebilt coach passes away
January 27, 2016
Former Lafourche Parish District 5 Council member John Arnold is dropping out of the race to win his seat.
Arnold, a Republican from Gray, announced Friday that he was withdrawing his name from the March 5 special election for the District 5 seat. He said he was dropping out because of the demands of his private business ventures.
“I don’t feel like I could put 100 percent in it right now, and I don’t think that’s fair to the community. So I figured one of the other people that think they can put 100 percent in it might be better off this term,” Arnold said.
Arnold recently bought Sunrise Fried Chicken in Bayou Blue and a daiquiri shop. He said the work of building up two businesses, combined with incoming work from his construction company, proved to be overwhelming. Arnold said he will still stay involved and hopes to run for his spot once again when his affairs are in order.
“I hope I can get the businesses off the ground. I’m still trying to be a pillar in the community and help out where I can help out. I’m going to definitely stay informed on what’s going on, and I’m pretty sure I’ll probably run again,” he said.
Arnold had been the District 5 Council member from 2011-15. He was slated to run uncontested for re-election but was disqualified in September for having unpaid state fines. With no candidates qualified, the District 5 seat race was moved to a special election.
Arnold’s withdrawal leaves three contenders for the District 5 seat. Mark Atzenhoffer, no party, James Honoré Bourgeois, R, and Holly “Scooter” LeBouef, no party, will vie for Arnold’s former seat.
Arnold said he is proud of the work he did in his four years, including building pump stations and repairing roads in Lafourche.
“I think we put a good step forward, and I think I did a pretty decent job at getting the things done that we needed to get done. I wish I could have gotten a lot more done, but it’s government. It’s a slow process,” he said.
While Arnold already has one eye on the next election cycle, he expressed confidence in the new parish leadership.
“I really think this parish is going to move forward this term. With the help of the new parish president and the new administration and the new council, if they can all work together, I think they’ll get a lot accomplished,” Arnold said. •
Arnold announced last week he is dropping his bid for re-election to his District 5 seat, instead focusing on building two new companies and his construction business.
