Lapeyre to fill Dist. 6 seat

Former Terrebonne Parish Councilman Harold Lapeyre has been nominated to fill the District 6 parish council seat of Leland Robichaux, who passed away last week, until a primary election is held on Oct. 4.

The parish council confirmed Lapeyre prior to the council committee meetings Monday night. If Lapeyre is confirmed, he will assume the District 6 seat immediately, sitting in on the committee meetings Monday night.

Lapeyre was the District 6 councilman before being term-limited out of the position in January. Robichaux won the open seat handily in October. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly before taking office.

Lapeyre will not seek the open seat in October. He signed a form stating he would not run for the position, said Parish Council Chairman Clayton Voisin.

“Harold doesn’t plan to run for elective office again ever,” Voisin said.

After he was diagnosed, Robichaux talked with Voisin about who would take over the seat if Robichaux were unable to finish his term, Voisin said. “I said, ‘We would honor your wishes,'” he told Robichaux.

Voisin suggested that Robichaux’s wife Judy fill the unexpired term, but she said no. He then suggested Harold Lapeyre. Robichaux agreed.

“Leland requested that should he have to step aside, he hoped Harold would be the one,” Voisin said.

Qualifying for the open seat is July 9-11.