Meet the St. Mary Parish Candidates

ST. MARY DISCTRICT 1

HERBERT ‘H.B.’ BELL

AGE: 66

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: school bus driver St. Mary Parish School Board; Owner of HB’s Lounge

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Have run for office, but have never served

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The top issues we face are drainage and economic development for this area. We plan to try to create jobs in the area. I hope to work with other municipalities to come up with a plan to help the drainage and to also get jobs to get people in this area working like they should be again.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I am a candidate that believes in hard work and dignity. What sets me apart from them is the people in the district came to me and asked me if I’d run because the guys who have been in this position before aren’t doing anything for the area.”

CRAIG A. ‘REV.’ MATHEWS

AGE: 39

RESIDENCE: Jeanerette

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: Business management, entrepreneurship and marketing

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: First term councilman, hoping for reelection in this election to serve a second term. Served as secretary/treasurer in Recreation District No. 5; worked as community organizer; community development professional

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The top issue we face is creating economic opportunity by leveraging non-traditional resources for this historically disenfranchised rural and unincorporated area of St. Mary Parish. We have observed over 40 and 50 years of local government operations and within that timeframe, there has been little to no economic investment into this side of the parish.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I genuinely care about people.”

LIONEL ‘BUTCH’ METZ

AGE: 58

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: Banker with First National Bank of Jeanerette

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served on the parish council from 1992 to 2000

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The No. 1 thing we need to do is hopefully with the sheriff’s department, we get somebody who’s going to give us some protection and some constant faces. It shouldn’t take hours to respond in the means of a substation. That’ll help with our drug problem.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I believe in giving people what they see and what they believe. Whatever I am today, I am tomorrow. I don’t change. Titles don’t change me. I’m going to be true to you at all times. I believe you don’t need to take a pill or have a drink to go to sleep at night. I have morals and I have a conscience. I try to not do anything that will embarrass me, embarrass my family or the people who know me.”

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WARD 5

SHAWN CANTY

AGE: 47

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: Mechanic, Top Quality Welding

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ward 8 Constable for three terms

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The biggest thing in my opinion is across the state … a lot of constables just sit dormant and don’t do anything. The constables are the chief law enforcement of the ward. They have the same arrest powers of the sheriff and the same authority as the sheriff or deputy sheriff or city police. But most constables sit down in their houses and wait for their little check every month and don’t do anything. I want to turn this into a working constables office just like I did in Berwick, where I was the first uniform constable in the parish that actually patrolled and wrote tickets.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m willing to do the job like it’s supposed to be done. I’m a man of my word and I think I’m the right person for the job.”

JAMES. P. CARINHAS

AGE: 48

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: With the Patterson Police Department for 21 years

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Frito Lay route salesman; owner of Southland Police Supply

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The constable has a limited jurisdiction. His main role is serving eviction notices and any other court order that comes along. I believe in equal service for all. I would like to institute a scholarship program to award graduating students entering the field of criminal justice.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I am not seeking the job for the money, but to serve my community. I’ve done that all my life since I was a very young man. I learned that from my dad and am committed to serving all citizens equally.”

DAVID W. HILL

AGE: 36

PARTY: Republican

OCCUPATION: Mechanic, Top Quality Welding

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Frito Lay route salesman; owner of Southland Police Supply

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“Just talking to people in the area. No one sees the constable too often. I will be the constable that will be seen. My intentions are to do patrols in my ward sporadically.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“Enthusiasm. I’m energetic. I’m youthful compared to the other two candidates. I just want the chance to serve the people in my ward.”

ST. MARY DISTRICT 3

DAVID HANAGRIFF

AGE: 41

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: self employed owns Hanagriff Machine, which has been in business for 100 years

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served on St. Mary Parish Planning and Zoning Commission

Incumbent member of the council

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The major problem we have as a parish right now is economic development or rather a lack of it in our area of the parish. The western end of the parish is night and day different in economic development compared to the eastern end. What I plan on and what I’d like to do is lower milage rates, which on the eastern end of the parish are way too high. That’s not good for attracting business.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“Even though you don’t associate democrats as being conservative, I’m probably the most conservative person on the council as far as voting down and voting against new taxes. … That’s my biggest distinction between me and my opponent. I’m a true conservative.”

PETER SOPRANO

AGE: 57

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: Maintenance director at Franklin Health Care

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: 2000-08, on the St. Mary Parish Council; twice serving as the vice chairman.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“Working with our development office. I think it needs to be restructured along with our planning and development office. With the help of the parish council members and administration, we’re going to get them to work with us to get the votes we need to make it happen and see what we can do with it.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m approachable. I have more experience than he has and I think I’m more effective in terms of getting things done through the council. I have eight years of proven effectiveness. I accomplished a lot in the eight years I was there. In the four years he’s been there, especially in the last two years, he’s not been able to get six votes from the council to get anything done.”

ST. MARY DISTRICT 7

ROGERS LINER

AGE: 67

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: retired city employee; worked in sanitation with the city

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: none

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“I think the top issue for the entire parish and the entire area is economic development. The only promises I’m making is I will do the best of my ability to carry out what needs to be done for the parish and for the area.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m not going to comment on that. I really don’t want to say anything about him. He’s a fine man. My experience this town and dealing with government … those are the things I think will make me a good candidate.”

Editor’s Note: Repeated calls to Democratic candidate Tim J. Tregle went unreturned as of press time. Mr. Tregle hails from Morgan City.

ST. MARY DISTRICT 8

NORRIS J. CRAPPELL

AGE: 65

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: retired, consultant to contractor;

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: landfill supervisor for the parish for approximately 23 years; working for five parish presidents and three CAO’s and more than 30 councilmen

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“We’re on the lower end of St. Mary Parish. We need to try and get these little small areas better representation in there. I’m trying to get District 8 to represent Amelia because you’ve got the backwater flooding in Morgan City and all of that. We patrol the levees with the levee board and we worked with the Corps and everything.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I have the education. My opponent, he’s a fine fellow. He says that he is self educated, but I don’t think he’s fooled with the budgers. He’s a friend of mine. I know him well, so I’m not saying anything bad about him. … I have the experience with the budget and will be able to work with the budget process. And I also know about drainage because I’ve been involved with drainage in the parish.”

Editor’s Note: Repeated calls to Democratic candidate Sterling J. Fryou went unreturned as of press time. Mr. Fryou is from Morgan City.

ST. MARY DISTRICT 10

STEVE F. BIERHORST

AGE: 61

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: network operations manager for AT&T

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Served 14 years on Patterson City Council; eight years as mayor Pro Tem

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“Economic development and job creation is the thing that is most on everybody’s mind. We need to coincide that and work with the state for any incentives we can get for businesses to move in. If we can get the president to allow more drilling permits in a more prudent manner, we can put people to work in South Louisiana.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“Experience, honesty and integrity — those are things I pride myself on.”

DARIAN ‘COACH’ BREAUX

AGE: 39

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: recruiting supervisor at Oceaneering International/America’s Region

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: none

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“For me, the top issue that I’ve seen throughout my career as an educator and now with Oceaneering, what I do is go out and find people to fill jobs. Our high school kids, when they graduate, there’s a huge lack of opportunity for them to get skillful jobs. … I plan to train our younger people, expand on accessibility of training and get our parish up to date in training for our workforce.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“For me, the top issue that I’ve seen throughout my career as an educator and now with Oceaneering, what I do is go out and find people to fill jobs. Our high school kids, when they graduate, there’s a huge lack of opportunity for them to get skillful jobs. … I plan to train our younger people, expand on accessibility of training and get our parish up to date in training for our workforce.”

ST. MARY DISCTRICT 6

LOGAN J. FROMENTHAL JR.

AGE: 67

PARTY: Republican

OCCUPATION: Retired with Shell Oil and presently working for JAG Construction doing sales special assignments and safety

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: incumbent; two prior terms on the Morgan City Council from 1996-2004

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“There are several issues in District 6. I’ll be working very close with the St. Mary Parish Levee District, working closely with them to assist in any way we possibly can. This is a high water environment we live in. This past year, we had a serious flooding problem. From working with our levee district, the corps … we can work together to protect our homes and our property because flood protection is a very serious issue.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“Experience. My experience in government makes me the best for the job. My opposition is a very nice gentleman, but I believe I’m more experienced, having spent a lot of time working in government.”

RENESSE A. LANDRY

AGE: 40

PARTY: Republican

OCCUPATION: school teacher, welding at Morgan City High School

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“I’m really involved with young men and women around 17 and 18 years old. We’re training them to become members of society. The only problem I find we have here are careers. One thing I’d like to address is getting more involved in getting more companies here and also helping out the companies who are already here so that we can hire more people locally, so that our young men and women don’t have to leave out of the parish to find more jobs. I would invite companies to come in and see what we have to offer. We have water, we have railroad and we have interstate. These are the things we can show to companies to get involved. We have all of these surround parishes like Iberia Parish and Terrebonne Parish and all of these other local parishes who have these same things and are also doing very well.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m young. I’m a go-getter. I’m dealing with the younger people every day, so I see the needs and wants they are looking for. So many people love to live here. We have fishing. We have hunting. We have everything here. It’s just a job problem. That’s a serious problem here. I’d love to see our people stay here. Because if they don’t, you lose people and your tax base and that’s just a serious problem.”

ST. MARY DISTRICT 9

RODNEY P. OLANDER

AGE: 49

PARTY: Republican

OCCUPATION: self employed commercial fisherman

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: none

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“Jobs. What I’d like to see done is the zoning issues make it easier for businesses to locate to the parish so there’s not as much red tape and fees for the permits. A lot of people I talk to say the same thing — that seems to be a big concern with a lot of the business owners. The cost of the permits and the red tape they have to go through if they want to expand or if they want to locate here — those are all big problems.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m new to the race. I’m hoping will have some new ideas. I’m more than willing to work with the new council, whether from the east or west side. I’ve heard in the past they’ve had issues with west and east members and things like that. If elected, I plan to work with all new members of the council.”

Editor’s Note: Repeated calls to Democratic candidate Albert Foulcard went unreturned as of press time. Mr. Foulcard is from Franklin.

ST. MARY DISCTRICT 11

GREG A. GREEN

AGE:

PARTY: No Party

OCCUPATION: small business owner with business in oilfield industry

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“The biggest issue facing district 11 is economic development. We’ve got to have economic development. Without that, we can’t have growth and we can’t move forward. We need to focus on developing the area’s waterfront property to bring in industry and training to be able to handle workers for any new companies that come in.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“I’m not a career politician. I’m passionate about my community and our area.”

KEVIN J. VOISIN

AGE: 44

PARTY: Democrat

OCCUPATION: small business owner/Atchafalaya Bonding Service

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: three terms on the parish council; District 7 in the Morgan City area

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE TOP ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

“Jobs. We need to look at ways to go about keeping industry that we currently have and retaining companies here. The moratorium is hurting the service industries here in St. Mary Parish.”

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

“Qualifications and proven experience in leadership.”

ST. MARY DISTRICT 11

Editor’s Note: Candidates in St. Mary’s Ward 4 Justice of the Peace race did not respond to multiple interview requests as of press time. Candidates in the race are Eric J. Gaudet Jr. of Centerville, William W. Lanclos Jr. and Louella Mandubourg Roberson, both of Franklin. All three candidates are Democrats.