Runoff to decide three Lafourche Parish Council seats

Three Lafourche Parish Council seats will be decided Saturday: Districts 5, 7 and 8.

In District 5, incumbent Mark Atzenhoffer faces “Matt” Matherne.

Atzenhoffer, 43, received 34 percent of the vote in the Oct. 20 election, just shy of 70-year-old Matherne’s 37 percent.

It’s not the first time the two political foes have faced off for the District 5 post. Atzenhoffer defeated Matherne in the 2003 election, claiming the council post.

At a recent debate at the Larose Civic Center, the two presented differing views on trimming Lafourche Parish’s budget.

Republican Atzenhoffer said he favors cutting budget items as needed throughout the year. In contrast, Matherne, who lists no party affiliation, sharply criticized building construction; saying if projects were built right the first time money could be saved on repairs prematurely surfacing.

Matherne received the endorsement of early opponents Peggy Guidroz and Albert Martin, both of whom were knocked out of the race after the Oct. 20 vote.

In District 7, incumbent L. Phillip Gouaux III faces Ernest P. Boudreaux. The gap in the Oct. 20 race was wider; however, Gouaux netted only 49 percent of the vote, just shy of what he needed for re-election.

Boudreaux had 30 percent of the vote.

The two share several philosophies, differing only slightly on drainage issues.

Democrat Gouaux noted a number of projects in the works since he took office at last week’s debate, including improvements on Hamilton and East Seventh streets as well as in upper Larose. He also suggested a dragline, recently purchased by the parish government, could be used to improve levees at a cost savings.

Boudreaux took aim at the incumbent, saying several homes flooded in October during heavy rains. If elected, he said he would develop a priority list, putting projects in flood-prone areas at the top of the list.

District 8 pits Democrat Rodney Doucet against Republican “Kris” Gaudet in a runoff. Both men are from Cut Off.

An electrician refrigeration technician for 30 years, Doucet received 43 percent of the popular vote in the Oct. 20 race.

Doucet is a branch manager at Teche Electrical Supplies’ Golden Meadow office. He was not present at last week’s debate.

A newcomer to the political arena, Gaudet received 27 percent of the vote in October’s primary. As a councilman, he said good funding and business decisions are required. His priorities include improved communication, drainage and attracting new businesses to Lafourche. By generating business, he theorizes that tax revenues would be increased and property taxes could be lowered.

Gaudet also said at the debate that federal mitigation grants are needed to help homeowners in the parish’s lower reaches who are plagued by flooding.

Voting in the Lafourche Parish races is set for Saturday. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters will also decide the fate of a 10-year, 7.6 mill property tax for Fire Protection District No. 6. The monies will be used to purchase, build, improve, maintain and operate the district’s fire facilities and equipment.

It will also help purchase fire trucks, additional equipment and pay the cost of water for fire protection purposes.

The millage would take effect in 2009, and would end in 2018. Over that time, $177,000 are expected to be levied, according to parish officials.