Dove selects department heads
January 13, 2016
Jury convicts Houston officer in “Up Da Bayou Boyz” case in federal court
January 15, 2016
Terrebonne Parish welcomed its new parish president and council at an inauguration ceremony Thursday night.
In front of friends, family members, colleagues and state officials, Terrebonne’s administration for the last four years adjourned for the final time. The parish president and council for the next four years followed with their first official meeting.
The ceremony at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center marked a sea change for the parish presidency and council. Gordon Dove, District 52 Rep. for the last 12 years, took over his new post as Terrebonne Parish President. He took over from Michel Claudet, president for the last eight years and term-limited out.
Dove acknowledged the economic challenges currently facing the parish, but offered reassurance to the public that Terrebonne would make it to the other side.
“Having gone through the ‘80s, as we look at the economic downturn due to oil prices, we can and will ride this out. There’s still a lot of activity in deepwater drilling. Production in deepwater is here to stay, and we just have to sit here and ride it out. It’s going to be a tight budget, but we’ll get through with it,” he said.
Dove also mentioned the numerous projects he has inherited from Claudet, as well as those that he plans to start himself. He said his administration would do everything it could to assist local authorities with the rising illicit drug market and its residue of violent crime. Dove spoke of his time in Baton Rouge, and looked ahead to continuing the parish’s coastal communities’ fight for survival.
“It’s been an honor and a pleasure and a privilege to serve Terrebonne Parish as state representative for the last 12 years as chairman of [the House Natural Resources Committee], Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board member, and [I] look forward to serving you as parish president,” Dove said. “Please keep this great parish in your prayers. We will not retreat or move north from coastal erosion. We can and will win the fight for the coast.”
The Terrebonne Parish Council welcomed five new members on Thursday. Gerald Michel represents District 3 after defeating incumbent Greg Hood in a run-off election. Scotty Dryden took over the District 4 seat from Beryl Amedee, who is headed to Baton Rouge as District 51 state representative. Darrin Guidry replaced Russell “Red” Hornsby in District 6, while “Al” Marmande took Danny Babin’s spot in District 7 after Babin ran against Dove for the parish presidency. Steve Trosclair is in term-limited Pete Lambert’s District 9 seat.
The council elected District 1 Council Member John Navy as council chairman for 2016. Dirk Guidry, District 8 council member, will be the council’s vice-chairman for the year. Navy, beginning his second term, said that he does not see his role changing much, although he will provide leadership and advice for the council’s newcomers.
“Actually I don’t consider my role to change that much, just hopefully I can help the new council members, to educate them on the process of what they do with parish government,” Navy said.
One of those freshmen, Trosclair, said he’s heard about the issues facing his district and wants to do his part in assisting the parish’s progress.
“The main thing is keeping Terrebonne Parish moving forward. In my district, it’s the flood protection, low drainage, and that’s everybody’s main concern,” he said.
Navy said that his conversations with his colleagues leave him optimistic for the council’s next four years.
“I’ve been talking to the other council members, and they’re looking forward to working with us and the new administration, and I think we’re going to have a great council,” Navy said.
Trosclair said he has known Lambert since elementary school. Trosclair said he took a simple but weighty lesson from the man he’s replacing.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” he said. •
Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle takes the oath of office with his family by his side on Sunday. Cantrelle unseated three-term president Charlotte Randolph in a run-off election.
