Candidates file for 2014 fall slate

By JOHN DeSANTIS

john@tri-parishtimes.com

Terrebonne Parish voters will be choosing between their current district attorney and the man he unseated for the post 18 years ago when they go to the polls Nov. 4.

They will also have choices to make for the lone Houma City Court bench, with the retirement of veteran jurist Jude Fanguy, for the office of City Marshall and in a handful of districts where constable or justice of the peace positions are being contested.

Candidacies became official at the close of the qualifying period of Friday in both parishes.

District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. is seeking a fourth term of office in Terrebonne Parish and has been challenged by former District Attorney Doug Greenburg, whom he defeated in 1996.

Waitz is a Republican, and Greenburg listed no party in his qualifying paperwork.

Waitz had initially said he would serve only two terms, but he was unopposed last time out. This year, he maintains that strong community support for his continued service caused him to seek re-election.

“An overwhelming number of citizens and staff asked me to run again,” Waitz said when contacted Monday. “They said this parish was a positive place to be and wanted to keep it very cooperative among the public servants. They view our criminal justice system as one of the best in the state. I think people appreciate a tough prosecutor but also someone who appreciates harmony in our community. The vast majority of the legal community here in Terrebonne encouraged me to seek re election as well.  Based upon this I made the decision to seek a 4th term.”

Greenburg has stated that Waitz should have kept to his two-term promise, and cites concerns about what he perceives as conflicts between the incumbent’s public office and his private law practice. He has maintained in prior interviews concerns about Waitz’s office being too close to Sheriff Jerry Larpenter’s operation and has questioned its independence. He was in meetings Monday and not available for comment.

He addresses some of the issues on his Web site, www.dougforda.com.

“No other attorney has yet evidenced a willingness to oppose the present district attorney. After much consideration, I intend to do so. For the first time in 18 years it will be the voters who make the choice and select the district attorney for the next six-year term,” the former prosecutor said. “My record as a full-time district attorney and that of the incumbent represent very different commitments and agendas. They will be factually compared throughout the campaign.”

Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant was unopposed.

District attorneys serve a six-year term.

All but one of Terrebonne Parish’s district judges will remain on the bench. Judge Timothy Ellender is retiring and his bench will be occupied by Assistant District Attorney Juan Pckett, who qualified for the post with no opposition.

The City Court judge in Houma hears traffic and small claims cases and also handles juvenile court matters. Fanguy’s retirement due to a state-wide age restrictions capping judicial careers at the age of 70 leave the bench open.

Attorneys Cheryl Carter and Matt Hagen of Houma and attorney Randall Alfred of Schriever are vying for the bench. All three are Republicans.

Five candidates are seeking to unseat Houma City Marshal Brian LeBlanc; Ernest Boudreaux, Donald Lirette, Orville Callahan, DL Mosely and Willie Radau III. All are Republicans except Boudreaux and Mosely, who are Democrats.

In Lafourche Parish four of the five District Court judges are running unopposed.

One bench – that of Division B – is open. Attorneys John Erny of Raceland, Steve Miller of Thibodaux and Tony Lewis, also of Thibodaux, have qualified and so will be on the ballot.

Erny and Miller are Republicans and Lewis is a Democrat.

Most constable and justice of the peace positions will remain static but several are contested in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

Elder justices and constables, who would have been barred from qualifying due to a bill signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Bobby Jindal, got a reprieve when a Baton Rouge judge approved an injunction blocking implementation of the measure pending further court action.

Until that time incumbents over 70 would have been locked out of the race.

In Lafourche District 1 Republicans Bryan Fontenot and Melissa Granier and Democrat Ronnie Winston seek the Justice of the Peace position for Thibodaux. Incumbent constable Benny Percle, a Democrat, is opposed by Paul LaGraize, a Republican.

In District 2, which includes Raceland, incumbent Justice of the Peace Mary Foret, a Democrat, has been challenged by Democrat Carolyn Smith and Republican Lillie Foret.

District 3 Justice of the Peace Bennett Arceneaux, a Republican, has been challenged by Troy Templet, who clams no party. Incumbent constable John Detillier faces a challenge from Marvin Allemand.

District 4 Justice of the Peace Lois Gautreaux is challenged by Christopher Schwertz; neither claims a party. Constable Carl Doucet, a Democrat, runs against challenger Martin D. Wade.

In Terrebonne Parish three justices of the peace face challengers. 

District 6 Republican George Doescher has been challenged by Mark Richards. The District 6 constable race ncludes candidates Kevin Duplantis, who has no party affiliation and Republicans Kyle Neal and BJ Underwood.

In District 8 incumbent Justice of the Peace Horace Johnson is challenged by Floyd Ruffin. Both are Democrats. 

District 9 Justice Drew Breaux faces challenges from Democrat Lloyd Ruffin and Raymond Ledet who, like Breaux, claims no party. That district’s constable, Paul Breaux, has been challenged by Ryan Bonvillain and Jody Ellender and Republican AP Cocke.

To vote in the elections, voters must be registered no later than Oct. 3.

ALL RACES SET TO BE CONTESTED IN TRI-PARISH AREA

In the U.S. Senator race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Wayne Ables (D-New Orleans)

*Raymond Brown (D-New Orleans)

*”Bill” Cassidy (R-Baton Rouge)

*Thomas Clements (R-Lafayette)

* Mary L. Landrieu (D-New Orleans)

*”Rob” Maness (R-Madisonville)

*Brannon LeeMcMorris (Lib-Denham Springs)

*Vallian Senegal (D-Opelousas)

*William P. Waymire Jr. (D-Gonzales)

In the U.S. Rep. 1st Congressional District race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Lee A. Dugas (D-Kenner)

*M. V. “Vinny” Mendoza (D-Ponchatoula)

*Jeffry “Jeff” Sanford (Lib-Baton Rouge)

*Steve Scalise (R-Jefferson)

In the U.S. Rep. 6th Congressional District race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Robert Lamar “Bob” Bell (R-Baton Rouge)

*”Dan” Claitor (R-Baton Rouge)

*Norman “Norm” Clark (R-Denham Springs)

*Rufus Holt Craig Jr. (Lib-Baton Rouge)

*Paul Dietzel II (R-Baton Rouge)

*Edwin Edwards (D-Gonzales)

*Cassie Felder (R-Baton Rouge)

*Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge)

*Richard Lieberman (D-LaPlace)

*Craig McCulloch (R-Ethel)

*”Trey” Thomas (R-Baton Rouge)

*Lenar Whitney (R-Houma)

*Peter Williams (D-Lettsworth)

In the District Judge 17th Judicial District Court, Division B race, the following candidates have qualified:

*John J. Erny III (R-Raceland)

*Anthony P. “Tony” Lewis” (D-Thibodaux)

*”Steve” Miller (R-Thibodaux)

In the District Attorney 32nd Judicial District Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*“Doug” Greenburg (Other-Houma)

*”Joe” Waitz Jr. (R-Houma)

In the Lafourche Parish Assessor race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Jonathan “Jo-Jo” Cheramie (R-Thibodaux)

*Jerome “Dee” Richard (No party-Thibodaux)

*Wendy Thibodaux (No party-Lockport)

In the City of Houma City Judge City Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Randall M. Alfred (R-Schriever)

*Cheryl Carter (R-Houma)

*Matthew “Matt” Hagen (R-Houma)

In the City of Houma City Marshal City Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Ernest P. Boudreaux (D-Houma)

*Orville Callahan (R-Houma)

*Brian J. LeBlanc (R-Chauvin)

*Ronald Lirette (R-Houma)

*David “D. L.” Mosely (D-Houma)

*Willie Radau III (R-Houma)

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 3 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Richmond “Rev” Boyd Jr. (D-Thibodaux)

*Eva Mae Queen Shanklin (D-Thibodaux)

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 6 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Brian “T-Jack” Millet (Other-Thibodaux)

*Renee O. Morvant (No party-Thibodaux)

*Gregg P. Stall (R-Thibodaux)

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 7 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Gary Foret (D-Raceland)

*Myra Zeringue Luft (No party-Raceland)

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 15 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Calvin Duet (D-Galliano)

*Lawrence Mounic (D-Golden Meadow)

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 1 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*David L. Rockward (D-Houma)

*Roosevelt “Rosey” Thomas (D-Houma)

*”Joe” Thompson (D-Houma)

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 5 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Brenda Leroux Babin (D-Houma)

*William “Bill” Simmons (D-Houma)

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 6 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*”L. P. Bordelon III (R-Houma)

*Clyde F. Hamner (D-Houma)

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 7 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Windy Wilson Billiot (R-Theriot)

*Roger Dale DeHart (D-Houma)

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 9 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Hayes Badeaux (D-Bourg)

*Vicki Bonvillain (R-Montegut)

*Cally Yelverton Trosclair (No party-Bourg)

In the Lafourche Parish Justice of the Peace 1st Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Bryan Fontenot (R-Thibodaux)

*Melissa “Missy” Granier (D-Thibodaux)

*Ronnie Winston (D-Thibodaux)

In the Lafourche Parish Justice of the Peace 2nd Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Lillie B. Foret (R-Raceland)

*Mary U. Foret (D-Raceland)

*Carolyn Smith (D-Raceland)

In the Lafourche Parish Justice of the Peace 3rd Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Bennett Arceneaux (D-Larose)

*Troy Templet (No party-Raceland)

In the Lafourche Parish Justice of the Peace 4thJustice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Lois Gautreaux (D-Galliano)

*Christopher Schwertz (No party-Larose)

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 6 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*George Doescher (R-Montegut)

*”Cathy” LeBoeuf (No party-Montegut)

*Mark P. Richards (No party-Montegut)

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 8 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Horace Johnson (D-Gibson)

*Floyd Ruffin, Jr. (D-Gibson)

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 9 race, the following candidates have qualified:

Drew P. Breaux (No party-Houma)

*Raymond Ledet (Other-Houma)

*Lloyd Ruffin Sr. (D-Houma)

In the Lafourche Parish Constable 1st Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Paul “P-4” LaGraize (R-Thibodaux)

*Benny Joseph Percle (D-Thibodaux)

In the Lafourche Parish Constable 3rd Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Marvin Allemand (D-Raceland)

*John “Johnny” Detillier (D-Raceland)

In the Lafourche Parish Constable 4th Justice of the Peace Court race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Carl Doucet (D-Galliano)

*Martin D. Wade (Lib-Galliano)

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 5 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Douglas “Chubby” Chauvin (R-Bourg)

*Philip Pitre (R-Bourg)

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 6 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Kevin Duplantis (Other-Montegut)

*Kyle Neal (R-Montegut)

*William “B. J.” Underwood III (R-Montegut)

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 9 race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Ryan Bonvillain (No party-Houma)

*Paul J. Breaux (Other-Houma)

*Anthony “A. P.” Cocke (D-Houma)

*Jody B. Ellender (No party-Houma)

In the City of Thibodaux Councilman District A race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Eddie Hebert (D-Thibodaux)

*Eric J. Tabor (R-Thibodaux)

In the City of Thibodaux Councilman District C race, the following candidates have qualified:

*Alfred “A. J.” Carter IV (Other-Thibodaux)

*Constance T. Johnson (D-Thibodaux)

Varick Taylor Sr. (D-Thibodaux)

———

Winners unopposed

In the Judge, Court of Appeal 1st Circuit, 1st Dist., Elec. Sec. 1, Division C race, Guy Holdridge (R-Gonzales) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 17th Judicial District Court, Division A race, John E. LeBlanc (No party-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 17th Judicial District Court, Division C race, Walter I. Lanier III (D-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 17th Judicial District Court, Division D race, Christopher “Chub” Boudreaux (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 17th Judicial District Court, Division E race, F. Hugh “Buddy” Larose (D-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 32nd Judicial District Court, Division A race, George J. Larke Jr. (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 32nd Judicial District Court, Division B race, John R. Walker (Other-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 32nd Judicial District Court, Division C race, Juan Pickett (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 32nd Judicial District Court, Division D race, David W. Arceneaux (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the District Judge 32nd Judicial District Court, Division E race, Randall L. Bethancourt (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the District Attorney 17th Judicial District Court race, Camille A. “Cam” Morvant II (No party-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux City Judge City Court race, Mark D. Chiasson (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux City Marshal City Court race, Harley J. Gros (D-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 1 race, Louis E. Thibodaux (D-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 2 race, Brooke E. Huddleston (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 4 race, Marian Fertitta (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 5 race, Mary Breaud (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 8 race, Ronald Pere (D-Raceland) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 9 race, Julie Breaux (D-Gheens) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 10 race, Dennis “Jean” Chiasson (D-Lockport) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 11 race, Clyde “Joey” Duplantis III (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 12 race, Ann Bouvier Sanamo (D-Larose) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 13 race, “Al” Archer (D-Cut Off) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish School Board District 14 race, Ray C. Bernard (D-Galliano) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 2 race, Gregory Harding (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 3 race, Richard “Dicky” Jackson (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 4 race, Debra “Debi” Benoit (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish School Board District 8 race, Donald “Don Duplantis (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 1 race, Robert “Yogi” Naquin (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 2 race, Kenneth “Kenny” Hamner (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 4 race, Cheryl Authement Blanchard (D-Dulac) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 5 race, Jerome C. Fabre (R-Bourg) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 7 race, Johnny B. Eschete (R-Chauvin) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Justice of the Peace Justice of the Peace Ward 10 race, Junior J. Theroit (D-Theriot) runs unopposed.

In the Lafourche Parish Constable 2nd Justice of the Peace Court race, Dwain LeBouef (D-Raceland) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 1 race, David J. LeBoeuf (R-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 2 race, “L. J.” Schexnayder (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 4 race, Harrison “Sonny” Parfait (D-Houma) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 7 race, Daniel J. Trahan (D-Chauvin) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 8 race, Lloyd Gibson (D-Gibson) runs unopposed.

In the Terrebonne Parish Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 10 race, Dale Theriot (D-Theriot) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux Mayor race, “Tommy” Eschete (No party-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux Councilman at Large Seat D race, Lloyd “Chip” Badeaux (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux Councilman at Large Seat E race, Chad Mire (No party-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

In the City of Thibodaux Councilman District B race, “Gene” Richard (R-Thibodaux) runs unopposed.

Staff Writer Richard Fischer contributed to this report