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Michel Claudet will make way Monday for Gordon Dove as Terrebonne Parish President. The outgoing president took some time to reflect on his eight years in office.
The CPA, lawyer and businessman from Lockport had been in Terrebonne since 1981, and had never sought public office before his bid for the parish president’s desk. What pushed him to seek the highest position in local government?
“It just didn’t seem like we were moving forward. Consequently I just thought maybe I could get some projects done,” he said.
Claudet assumed office on Jan. 14, 2008 after defeating Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter in a runoff election. He was not given time to ease into his new role, as hurricanes Gustav and Ike slammed Terrebonne during his first year in office. Claudet, still a green parish president, ceded emergency powers to then-sheriff Vernon Bourgeois in response to Gustav.
“That was quite challenging. I came in and I was brand new, I didn’t know the people, their abilities or what could be done for the parish. I asked for the assistance of the sheriff at the time, he was gracious to come in and assist. And we were very pleased,” Claudet said.
However, admitting his need for help in such a time earned Terrebonne’s president the ire of his predecessors. Two previous parish presidents called for his resignation shortly thereafter, and a petition began to circulate calling for a recall election that could have ousted him from office. While the petition never gained steam, it still was not welcome news to the first-year administrator.
“It was obviously like a kick in the gut where you thought you were working hard and trying to do a good thing, then they filed a recall petition. Thankfully, it was later dismissed and it’s been clear sailing since then,” he said.
Claudet said the time of passing the baton during emergencies is no more. He talked about the plan his administration has developed for storms as well as a facility under construction for the Terrebonne Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness that will be able to handle the strongest of storms.
“Since that time, we’ve developed an Office of Emergency Preparedness that’s second to none in the state. We have a unified command and we’re building a Cat 5 facility out on the northern part of the area right on Government Street,” he said.
Speaking about construction and ongoing projects with Claudet leads to a quick recitation of underway or completed infrastructure improvements. The Westside Boulevard Bridge, Valhi Boulevard extension, Thompson Road extension, St. Ann Bridge and the Bayouside Bridge among them, as well as the Westside Boulevard extension.
According to Claudet, improving these roads helped the productivity of the residents by making it easier for them to get around, but it also helps catch the eyes of businesses looking to invest in the area.
“It helps attract businesses that get in and out. Businesses want to be in our area because we have a gateway to the Gulf. Consequently, if we can provide the roads, the sewer, then it’s a really good thing, that they can come in and they can locate down here,” he said.
All of these projects do not come without issues. The parish needs to acquire the land to do the construction. Some residents do not wish to sell their property, which leads the parish to go through the expropriation process, where a judge may order a sale in return for a payment of appraised value. And what of the residents incensed by the parish taking their land to build a new road?
“Not everybody’s amicable to deal with,” he said.
Among goals Claudet said he could not resolve – but wishes he had – is a long-standing boundary dispute between Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.
“I would have really liked to have accomplished the boundary dispute between Terrebonne and Lafourche. And I started a little bit late, and unfortunately we had some problems going forward,” Claudet said.
The outgoing president listed his largest achievement as the building of a coalition of parish presidents in the state to fight against the Biggert-Waters Act and the insurance premium price hikes it was set to bring. After continued appeals and trips to Washington, D.C. by Louisiana leaders, Congress voted in 2014 to avert the large hikes.
“We started Biggert-Waters in this conference room, where I had a conference call with all the southern parish presidents, and we all recognized the problem. We said we needed to go forward,” he said.
Claudet said that he has offered Dove advice for the job when prompted, but he is not imposing on his successor’s own plans.
“Gordy’s a really smart individual, and he also has been around Terrebonne Parish, its government and the workings of government for quite some time. He’s pretty knowledgeable, and I’ve tried not to really tell him what to do,” Claudet said.
The current president said that he had to put his private life on the backburner when he took the top job in the parish, including selling off most of his business interests and spending long hours at the office. He said he hopes he can recover that part of his life once Dove takes over.
As for what Claudet’s other plans are for when he leaves office?
“I’m going to travel,” he said. “And I’m going to do things that don’t have anything to do with government.” •
