Teen’s social media felony charge abated
March 5, 2019
Theresa Broussard
March 5, 2019
Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle said he has had enough of the council playing “ping-pong” with his salary, and he may take legal action against them.
“For three years, I’ve tried to get along, but they have been bullying me. I did not campaign to become parish president so I could get a big check. I wanted to work hard for the good people of Lafourche Parish, and I believe we have been doing our best to do so,” Cantrelle said.
The parish president offered the remarks Monday, in the wake of last week’s council meeting where there were questions among the council over Cantrelle’s salary.
“My salary should be an average of the compensation of the parish sheriff, clerk of court and the assessor,” Cantrelle said.
“However, every year this council has been reducing my salary by an average of at least $30,000. Heck, they can’t even settle on what my base pay is supposed to be.”
Currently, Cantrelle said his salary is $160,000.
“What they’ve done is malfeasance in office. And it’s getting to be campaign time again, so the gang of bullies are mounting their forces,” he said.
Cantrelle explained that there is no such thing as a “raise” for the parish president.
“He starts at zero in every budget. Each year, his salary is calculated from scratch according to the legal formula, and it must be exactly what the law determines. No more. No less. And it is not within the power of the Parish President or the Council to ignore the law and change it,” he said.
“Everyone needs to know that this method of calculating the pay for the Parish President was made the law for a very specific and important reason. As we can see right now, there is the very real danger that the Council will try to bully the parish president by controlling his salary.”
Cantrelle then cited examples.
“What if the Council chose to make the salary $1 to punish him? Or, what if the Council wanted to reward or bribe a parish president for selling out on his duty to the people by paying him $300,000? The very reason for taking the power to set the parish president’s salary away from the council during the present year or term of office is to protect the parish president and the people from such corruption and bullying.”
The parish president said he hoped the elections this fall will flush away the mess that he faces when trying to work with the parish council, “and their pretty low treatment toward me.”
“Lies, Lies, and more Lies. This is pure dirty politics. A smear campaign based on lies. Sadly, an example of the kind of abuse of political power we have suffered through the past three years and that will continue as long as this Gang of Bullies holds elected office.”
Cantrelle said he will keep doing the best he can for the people of Lafourche Parish.
“I am not going to be pushed around by the political gangsters of this council. I will not allow the gang of bullies to abuse their power and attack me or the fine employees of our parish government team. I have tried to work with the council, but if some of them force a fight, I will fight back,” he said.
Attempts to reach several members of the Lafourche Parish Council were unsuccessful at press-time on Monday.
The Times has since reached them and an expanded story will be posted in next Wednesday’s paper edition.
