Nov. 18
November 18, 2008
Catherine "Cat" Jacobs
November 20, 2008
A petition begun on Nov. 5 by Houma resident Bryan Bunn to recall Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet from office has until May 4 to collect enough signatures to force an election.
Petitioners are allowed 180 days from the postmarked date of the notice given to the Secretary of State’s Office, said Secretary of State spokesman Jacques Berry.
State law mandates that one-third of an area’s active voters have to sign a petition calling for a recall election, meaning organizers need around 20,000 signatures in Terrebonne Parish.
Active voters are those who have registered an address, Berry said.
The next available election date is April 4.
However, to reach that date, organizers have to collect the signatures and have them verified,
both of which are difficult processes, Berry said.
The date of an election would depend on when the petition is certified.
Berry said a May election date or later could be more likely if certification were to take place.
Bunn has cited several factors prompting the recall.
Claudet acted inappropriately in response to Hurricane Gustav and has been dilatory making appointments to parish offices, he said.
Bunn also objects to the way Claudet dealt with sexual harassment and misappropriation of funds accusations against Houma Police Chief Pat Boudreaux, who is on administrative leave.
District Judge George Larke Jr. ordered the Civil Service Board to suspend its investigation into accusations of wrongdoing against Boudreaux in July. He remains on paid administrative leave in the meantime.
At the Nov. 5 meeting, the council approved Claudet’s appointments of Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Prepared-ness and human resources directors.
While respecting Bunn’s rights as a citizen, Claudet said, “Obviously, I’m in complete disagreement with him.”
“It’s a free country,” Claudet said. “We just observed Veterans Day. People can express themselves.”
He added, “I’d be happy to meet with Mr. Bunn.”
Berry said the elimination of a provision in the Terrebonne Parish charter in the Nov. 4 election requiring only 25 percent of parish voters to force a recall has no affect on this recall petition. He said the state law, requiring one-third of voters, has priority over the parish charter.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
