Leaving on a high note

Terrebonne Parish President Don Schwab is leaving office Jan. 14 impressed mostly by one thing during his single term: the commitment demonstrated by his staff and department heads.

“In my four years, I’ve met great people, but my first comment is on my staff,” he said. “We have a great bunch of guys working for the parish. The people of Terrebonne don’t realize how great are our department heads. We are fortunate to have them.”

Schwab decided not to seek re-election because of the ordeal of campaigning and because of his age – 65.

“It’s time for another to step up,” he said, “to continue what we’ve done.”

When he became president in 2004, Terrebonne Parish government was confronting serious economic problems, Schwab said. As a result, he had to slash the jobs of 17 percent of the parish’s employees.

“It was the most difficult thing I did, telling them they didn’t have a job,” he said. “Over the four years (of his administration), we saved money. It was a very difficult thing to do.”

Terrebonne Parish is financially sound as he leaves office, he said. The parish has nearly $120 million available for improvements to drainage, roads, bridges, sewerage, and for coastal restoration, compared to $53 million when he entered office.

He said the greatest threat to Terrebonne Parish is a direct hurricane strike.

The flooding in south Terrebonne caused by Hurricane Rita consumed an inordinate amount of his administration’s time and resources.

“We’re still in the same shape,” he said. “We don’t have hurricane protection levees, only drainage levees. Until that time, we won’t be safe. We’ll be in deep trouble if we get hit like Mississippi and western Louisiana.”

Schwab has expressed confidence that incoming Parish President Michel Claudet can take on the challenges.

“The hardest job he will have is when he will have to tell a good friend ‘no,'” Schwab said. “He’ll have to make decisions for all of Terrebonne, not a select few.”

Claudet will enjoy the cushion of sales taxes derived from the Houma area’s increase in new retail stores and hotels, which have accelerated under Schwab’s tenure.

“Retail sales have been super,” Schwab said. “In the past, we’ve depended on the oilfields. We knew sooner or later we would have to diversify. We’re a regional hub for retail.”

The Terrebonne Economic Development Authority, established during Schwab’s administration, has been one of the key factors in Terrebonne’s growth, even though Schwab had little involvement with the parish agency’s creation.

“It’s had a tremendous impact in this area,” he said. “They’ve established a good working relationship with the people of the parish. Mike Ferdinand (TEDA’s CEO) has done a tremendous job.”

Schwab said his administration had a business-like approach from the beginning. He said he is proud that parish government endured no scandals during his tenure.

“I ran a clean administration,” he said. “We went through without any controversy, no illegal (dealings). Nothing unethical has happened in my administration.”

He backed up Parish Manager Barry Blackwell, who was told on Dec. 13 by the state Board of Ethics to reduce his ownership percentage in a residential real estate development in northern Terrebonne because of conflict of interest concerns.

“Blackwell, no way he did anything unethical,” he said. “He didn’t know the law. He was unjustly accused of what he didn’t do. Barry Blackwell is one of the most honest individuals I’ve known. He’s never been in trouble (when he was employed in the private sector).”

As for Terrebonne’s immediate future, Schwab said the parish has sewerage problems and obvious difficulties with traffic, partly caused by an influx of new residents following Hurricane Katrina.

He also wants to see the Prospect Street Bridge completed quickly.

“No way that project should take three or four years,” he said.

For his own future, Schwab said he will participate in parish affairs as long as he is capable.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve as president,” he said. “I want to thank the parish for letting me serve. You can’t please everybody. I only try to please as many as I can.”

He also credited his wife and family.

“They put me in this position four years ago,” Schwab said. “I will be forever grateful to them.”