Clash of the Titans

The runoff for Terrebonne Parish president between Sheriff Jerry Larpenter and lawyer/businessman Michel Claudet – to be decided Saturday – offers an acute contrast in styles.

Republican versus Democrat. Longtime local businessman versus longtime local public official. Restrained talk versus colorful language. The board room versus the street fighter.

Claudet, the Republican, has played up his role as an urbane, conservative establishment figure, a man who has succeeded in several professional fields.

Larpenter has run a feisty, assertive campaign, claiming Claudet’s involvement in numerous business ventures in the parish leaves him vulnerable to conflicts of interest.

Both men have lived most of their lives in the Terrebonne-Lafourche area.

Claudet is from Lockport. He received degrees from Louisiana State University in accounting and finance, and went to Loyola Law School at night to earn his law degree.

After stints with the LouAnna vegetable oil company in Opelousas and a large law firm in New Orleans, Claudet came to Terrebonne Parish in 1981 to practice law. He soon directed his attention toward business, helping to start Synergy Bank, buying the upscale Café Milano and, eventually, acquiring the former Holiday Inn in Houma, now the Quality Hotel.

He retired as an attorney in 2002.

At a debate with Larpenter Thursday night, Claudet dismissed rumors that he purchased real estate through the foreclosure process.

He just as quickly deflected attacks by Larpenter on his clean businessman image. At the debate, Larpenter decried the video poker machines installed in Claudet’s restaurants and hotel.

“He owns many businesses – there’s video poker, gambling, alcohol,” Larpenter said. “Gambling causes addicts to lose their homes, and divorces. Ethics are included in public office.”

“With gambling, what do you do if a casino (comes in) and the parish president owns video poker machines?” he said.

Claudet responded to the gambling question by saying Café Milano and the Quality Hotel only contain a couple of video poker machines.

“All restaurants and hotels have similar things,” he said. “I’m not aware of any conflict of interest. I have video poker, nice places. I probably give out more in charity than I make from video poker.”

Larpenter also said Claudet’s business ventures leave him “with too much on his plate.”

But Claudet announced several weeks ago that his brother Rene is now in charge of operating his businesses.

Claudet has mostly pounded away at his theme of running his campaign and parish government like one of his businesses.

“Ninety percent of what the parish does includes money,” he said at the debate. “You have to know where to find it. We have a $200 million budget and 900 employees.”

Claudet trumpeted his efforts helping to get the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center and the main library constructed, and revitalizing downtown Houma.

“My work ethic is strong,” he said. “People came to me knowing I could get the job done. I have a history of getting things completed.”

He said, if elected, he will go to parish department heads. If they are not doing their jobs, they will be gone.

“I don’t want to make decisions politically,” Claudet told the audience. “I don’t kiss babies, or swat people on the back. I’m not running for power or ego.”

“When you elect people the old way, you get the same result,” he said.

To Claudet, operating government like a business means running it efficiently, managing dollars to benefit the residents of the parish.

“Terrebonne has been taxed as much as it can stand,” he said at one point during the debate.

“With the traditional political process, I can see why people with qualifications do not run,” he said later.

Claudet has not accepted campaign contributions.

“Many things in the election process are distasteful,” he said. “I will enjoy running the parish as an administrator.”

Larpenter is skeptical of Claudet promoting himself as all business, no politics.

“He’s a pol regardless of what he says,” Larpenter said.

At the debate, Larpenter immediately made it clear which candidate will be carrying a lunch pail to work, if elected.

Contrasting himself with Claudet’s academic credentials, he told the audience he “was born with a Ph.D. – poor, hungry, determined.”

In a previous interview with the Tri-Parish Times, Larpenter said, “You’re gonna see me wearing Dickies and rubber boots.”

“I know where I come from,” he said. “I walk with my head proud.”

Larpenter was born one of 12 children.

After high school, he entered the U.S. Air Force, joining the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office for $500 a month after his discharge from the military.

“I chose my career 35 years ago,” he said. “I played hooky. The deputy was so nice I decided to be an officer.”

Larpenter said he began at the sheriff’s office having no intention of becoming top man (he has been sheriff of Terrebonne Parish for the last 20 years).

His use of prison labor has saved the parish money, he said, pointing to the pressure washing of Main Street, various bridges and the Houma tunnel, and to freshly painted schools, churches and libraries.

“Money being saved – that’s what Jerry Larpenter is about,” he said.

He is also about trying to put Claudet in his place.

Besides the complaints about video poker, Larpenter joked that after he is elected, he will make Claudet his financial officer.

Larpenter also claimed Claudet has never fished in Terrebonne Parish.

(Claudet responded that he has indeed fished in Terrebonne, but more so in his native Lafourche Parish. He said, though, he does not favor killing animals.)

“We have to have someone who knows the parish,” Larpenter said. “If we’re dunked with a 4 or 5 category storm, who do you want?”

The longtime sheriff also stressed that he has no private interests, though noting there is nothing wrong with owning businesses.

Larpenter has accepted campaign contributions, saying, “I’m not a millionaire.”

He said he has had to put up a large number of political signs in the parish to make sure residents know he is not running for sheriff again.

Although his style is pugnacious, Larpenter softens considerably when talking about his deputies, his staff, parish employees and the people of Terrebonne.

“I want to be remembered as a person who cares about people,” he said. “Jerry Larpenter is not self-centered. I get gratification from helping people.”

(When asked whether he is a populist, Larpenter did not respond specifically. In the previous Tri-Parish Times interview, he stated, “Power is in the hands of the people.”)

Claudet, for his part, was optimistic at the debate when discussing the future of Terrebonne.

He said he would like to see a type of people moving into the parish who can build businesses. He wants to live in a nice environment, and see the local culture enhanced.

“We can be responsive to the needs of the people of Terrebonne,” he said.

But both candidates, despite their sharply different approaches, are confident they know who is the right person to lead Terrebonne Parish.

“There are not many people in the U.S. who have as diverse a background (as I),” Claudet said.

Larpenter said, “There’s no other sheriff in the country doing what I do.”

Those are both grandiose claims, but the stakes are high.