Promising a more businesslike approach to governing, Claudet set to lead Terrebonne

Local businessman and retired lawyer Michel Claudet will become Terrebonne Parish’s first-ever Republican president when he is sworn in this Monday.

New to elective office, Claudet begins his term promising to pursue a more businesslike approach to governing the parish.

But Claudet has a great amount of respect for the man he will be replacing.

“Don Schwab has been so helpful to me,” he said. “I have nothing but accolades for him. Everyone has their own style and ours will certainly be different. He has opened the doors, allowing me access to his employees.”

Schwab has done more than ease the transition. Claudet’s predecessor will be leaving the new Terrebonne president more than $120 million in the parish’s capital improvement budget, which had been $53 million when Schwab took office in 2004.

Most of the capital improvement funds are already dedicated, however.

“I can’t just go in and say, ‘Put $20 million here,'” Claudet said.

Nevertheless, the Lockport native has relatively ambitious goals for Terrebonne Parish.

First off, he will appoint St. John the Baptist Parish Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Robottom as Terrebonne’s new parish manager, replacing Barry Blackwell.

“I was given glowing reports about her,” Claudet said.

He will also appoint St. Charles Parish Public Works Director Gregory Bush to the same position in Terrebonne Parish. Bush is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who lives in Des Allemands but will move here.

Robottom, who lives in Laplace, will probably stay in Terrebonne part-time, according to Claudet.

Current Terrebonne Public Works Director Al Levron will become projects administrator.

“We have a vast capital budget, but what good is it if the work isn’t being done?” Claudet said. “Our emphasis will be on completing projects, continuing the good work Don Schwab did and being good stewards of the parish’s finances.”

The majority of the parish’s department heads will retain their positions, including Chief Financial Officer Jamie Elfert and Director of Housing and Human Services Darrell Waire.

“But there will be additional changes,” Claudet said. “I want to emphasize I’m casting no aspersions on the other department heads by making new appointments. The parish employees, I have nothing but respect for the work they’ve done and I look forward to working with them.”

“I’ve been favorably impressed with the majority of department heads,” he said. “I’m going to make certain I meet with parish employees and explain to them (about) responsiveness to the public, our desire to make Terrebonne Parish a better place.”

Claudet also plans to revive the position of community problem solver, a position created around 12 years ago during Barry Bonvillain’s administration but which ended several years later after a new person was not hired for the job, said Council Clerk Paul Labat.

Naturally, coastal restoration in Terrebonne and strengthening the barrier islands in the parish will constitute a large part of the new administration’s efforts.

Claudet said he has spoken to Kerry St. Pe, director of the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program at Nicholls State University, and Leslie Suazo, Parish Coastal Restoration and Preservation director.

“We will inventory the available coastal restoration projects,” he said. “During the early stages of this administration, we will target projects where we can get the most results in the shortest period of time.”

Claudet said he will work with oil companies and other large landowners in south Terrebonne to aid in coastal restoration.

Other focuses of his administration will be beautification and the concerns of commercial and recreational fishermen.

“We will not look leniently at trash being thrown on the sides of the highway in all parts of the parish,” he said.

Claudet intends to form a beautification committee and a fisheries committee to advise him. He will work to remove derelict vessels from waterways in the parish, which can be obstacles for recreational and commercial boats traversing bayous and canals.

“Beautification and fisheries will assist in making our bayous more attractive,” he said. “We will emphasize grass cutting and the elimination of litter. Attention has to be paid to the entrances of the parish.”

“We’re receiving additional funds to raise vessels,” he said. “During my administration, we will maximize the utilization of these funds to clean up the bayou.”

He said that commercial fishermen want safe harbors and channel markings. In addition, they want their products promoted.

Claudet would like to see the parish’s boat launches improved as well.

“There are tons of quality-of-life issues,” he said.

After becoming president-elect, Claudet received more calls about recreation in Terrebonne than any other issue. Recreation will be a major emphasis of his administration, both for adults and children.

Claudet wants bike paths and walking paths for the parish’s adults. Increased participation in recreational activities can help keep youngsters out of trouble, he said.

To deal with traffic congestion in the parish, Claudet said he wants smart lights installed on parish roadways and more turn lanes. With smart lights, the duration of the traffic signal corresponds to how long the line of cars is at an intersection.

He cited a lengthy list of roadway improvement projects, which need to be completed to relieve congestion, including extending Valhi Boulevard, widening Hollywood Road and extending Enterprise Drive from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Louisiana Highway 311.

However, Claudet wants his impact on Terrebonne Parish to be more than enhancing the infrastructure. He hopes a more streamlined approach to governing will serve to boost the spirits of the people of Terrebonne.

“I will be visible throughout the community,” Claudet said, “to address as many problems as we can practically resolve in an expeditious and prompt manner.”

Incoming Parish President Michel Claudet and members of Terrebonne’s Parish Council will take the oath of office Monday evening at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center. * Photo by CHRIS SCARNATI