Judgeship dispute and political rancor shade MLK event
January 22, 2019
Talks to begin this week with state on Isle de Jean Charles project
January 23, 2019
Gov. John Bel Edwards told Lafourche and Thibodaux chamber members, things are looking up in Louisiana.
“We’re budgeting honestly, and smarter. The days of crippling budgets in our state are now over,” he said.
Edwards made history as the first guest speaker of the first combined Lafourche and Thibodaux Chambers of Commerce Installation Banquet, held Thursday in the Warren J Harang Jr. Municipal Auditorium, in Thibodaux.
The governor said with bi-partisan help, higher education has been funded for two years in a row, and Tops is fully funded.
He said the state is enjoying a $600 million tax cut, in addition to finding $300 million in its coffers last year.
“As a state, more people are working, and statistics are showing that we’re more profitable than what was previously forecasted.”
Edwards noted local attorney Matthew Block, calling him one of the “hardest working members of his administration.”
He said Nicholls President Jay Clune is a real leader, and that although he has only been on the job for a year, “his voice counts for something already,” because of the energy and enthusiasm that he has for Nicholls.
On the subject of criminal justice, the governor said for the first time in decades, the state does not have the highest incarceration rate.
Because of recent reforms, the state has saved $12 million, and reinvested $8 of that in the state’s new reentry program, helping those who are freed from jail to reenter society.
“Every reentry, if not properly successful, results in a new victim of crime,” he said.
Edwards concluded his remarks with, “By working with you and with your prayers, we can continue to move our great state forward. All of us have a mission, to leave things better than we found it for our children,” he said.
“If our kids tell us that the wish to go to college outside of the state, then we should wish them well. However, If they say they have to leave the state to find a good job, then we have failed them.”
After the banquet, both chambers dished out their annual awards.
The Lafourche Chamber awarded its retiring board members, John Rogers, Wanda Theriot and Joni Tuck.
Their Ambassador of the Year was Chad Doucet; Educator of the Year, Amanda Clement; and Community Hero of the Year, Charles “Mike” Callais.
Their Business Person of the Year was Vic Lafont and their Business and Industry of the Year was Oschner St. Anne Hospital.
The Lafourche Chamber also bid adieu to its 2018 Chair of the Board , Eddie Callais, and installed its 2019 Chair of the Board, Deanna LaFont.
The Thibodaux Chamber recognized their retiring board members: Greg Gaubert, Marguerite Knight and Lance Ledet.
The winner of the Mr & Mrs. Lindy Hoffman Music’s Unsung Hero Award was Loretta Mire Andry.
The Teenager of the Year was Mary Laura Zeringue; Business of the Year, Rouse’s Markets, and Business Member of the Year, Morgan Stanley.
The winner of the Frank Kennedy Citizen of the Year was David Duplantis.
The Thibodaux Chamber also bid adieu to its 2018 Chair of the Board, Cody Blanchard, and installed its 2019 Chair of the Board, Donald Barrilleaux.
