Dist. 7 differs on top priority

The race for Lafourche Parish’s 7th Council District pits three-term incumbent Phillip Gouaux against Greg Sanamo, the parish’s former director of parks and recreation.

The candidates differ in their opinion of the most-pressing issue facing their would-be constituents. Sanamo said he would like to increase transparency in government, while Gouaux discussed further improvement in protecting residents against floods.

Gouaux said his top priority is continued improvement of the parish’s levee and flood protection systems and pointed to ongoing projects in west Lockport and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

“I have a vested interest in flooding simply because I flooded for Hurricane Juan, and I know how it is,” Gouaux said. “You have to take it step by step and you have to attack the most vulnerable areas first, and the most vulnerable area at this time is the Larose-to-Lockport area, both sides of the bayou.”

Sanamo said his primary concern is to establish better lines of communication between the administration and the council and between public servants and private citizens in order to best designate priority projects.

“We have to be more in touch with the public as to what they would like to see those funds spent on,” Sanamo said. “Poll the people on issues and have more communication with the people that we plan on doing projects for and make sure that these are the projects that are important to us.”

The council hopeful said his “diversity” sets him apart from Gouaux. Sanamo pointed out that he owned a business in the past and now works as an employee for another company, adding that he wouldn’t forget the people he serves if he were to be elected.

“I’ve done everything from earning a college degree to digging ditches,” Sanamo said. “I can build a cabinet. I can build a wall. I can add on a room to my house. But at the same time, I can also analyze data. I have the book learning along with the common sense that it takes to survive these days.”

Gouaux said his experience and knowledge of levee and drainage systems, the people of the area and the inner-workings of district boards that govern flood and drainage projects set him apart from his competitor.

“I know the problems and I know the people,” Gouaux said. “I can visit with the people when rights of way are required or servitudes are required, and I see the people on a regular basis. I know them personally, and we can discuss different aspects of their needs, making me the better candidate.”

Sanamo’s wife, Ann, was elected to the Lafourche Parish School Board last year. Sanamo resigned his position as the parish’s recreation director in January before announcing his intentions to campaign for the seat Gouaux has occupied since 2000.