Larpenter, Hebert return to law jobs

For only the second time in Terrebonne Parish history, a former sheriff has come back after being away from the office to clench re-election. In Lafourche Parish the incumbent sheriff kept his job unopposed, and in St. Mary Parish a temporary appointment turned into a full term for the top placed candidate.

On Saturday, Jerry Larpenter, who had served as sheriff for 22 years prior to his failed 2007 run for parish president, secured 73.93 percent of the votes for a 17,695 to 6,241 win over businessman and part-time deputy sheriff Norman Schieffler.

“After being out of office for four years, it is a good feeling that the people decided to vote that the old way is the best way,” Larpenter said. “People remember what I’ve done over the years for them and I think it shows.”

Larpenter said that although he makes reference to his management style in the past tense, it does not mean he is not looking for ways to improve the working of his regained office or the parish judicial system.

“There are a lot of things that I want to take on,” Larpenter said. “I want to look at working closely with the criminal courts and justice system. I believe it is time to move these prisoners faster. We need to get these people convicted a lot faster.”

Larpenter said he would like to see the addition of a night court in Terrebonne Parish and an ad hoc judge to deal with misdemeanors and traffic violations. The sheriff-elect said this not only would ease workloads on existing judges, and allow them to process hard criminal cases faster, but could also enhance downtown business by offering increased after-hours opportunities for restaurants and other merchants serving public traffic after 5 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting back to stretch people’s tax dollars and have joint ventures with different government entities where we can move our parish forward and make our parish safe,” Larpenter said. “All the elected officials working together can only move this parish forward and make it a better place for people to live, work and raise a family.”

Lafourche Parish sheriff Craig Webre ran unopposed and secured an added term this election cycle.

While completing law school in 1988, Webre ran for sheriff and defeated a 16-year incumbent. He has held the office since then.

In St. Mary Parish, Mark Hebert was selected by voters to be sheriff in his own right, after having been appointed to complete the term of retired Sheriff David Naquin.

Hebert rose to the top of a four-man race by securing 8,008 of 15,003 votes cast to lead the field with 53.38 percent of the ballots.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick Lasalle came in second with 4,695 votes for 31.29 percent of the returns. Jack Smith was third with 1,572 votes or 10.48 percent of the field and Gregory Rodriguez completed the list of candidates with 728 votes for 4.85 percent of the returns.

“I’m not the selected one anymore,” Hebert said with a chuckle after securing public endorsement on his own. Having been a member of the sheriff’s office for 28 years, Hebert said he was able to work closely with Naquin during 15 of those years to establish groundwork from which he and his deputies can now build.

“I’ve been able to tweak the department in the direction I see it going in the future,” Hebert said. “We want to continue to expound on changes that Sheriff Naquin made. We’ve taken advantage of some grants and beefed up some criminal patrol divisions, narcotics, and implemented a lot of programs in our correctional facility like reentry and work release programs.

“We have a great department and my goal is to continue to evolve and make it a greater one,” Hebert added.