Rosamae Neil Smith
April 14, 2008
Charles "Charlie" Herbert Rice Jr.
April 16, 2008
Former State Rep. Jack Smith (D-Patterson) rejected a job offer from the St. Mary Parish Council to become its Capitol liaison.
Smith, who was term-limited out of office last year, works as an independent insurance and environmental consultant. Based on his long tenure of service in state government, Councilman Albert Foulcard submitted Smith’s name for the newly created liaison job.
“There’s been too much said, ranging from the valid … to the idiotic,” Smith said at last Wednesday’s parish council meeting. “I wish you good luck and God speed. Thank you and good evening,” the 17-year veteran of the state House said before a stunned crowd.
Other parishes have a governmental liaison assigned to promote local causes with lawmakers.
“Their system is unified, and they are successful. It is my hope that one day, St. Mary Parish will be the same,” Smith said in support of creating the position.
The need for such a person, the former state representative said, is evident, noting, “Gov. Bobby Jindal gave St. Mary Parish a one-two punch, cutting all local projects from the state’s capital outlay budget for this year.”
“He’s made an already difficult process to access state funds for local projects even more onerous,” Smith said.
“Gone are projects like $200,000 to help house battered, abused women in St. Mary Parish,” he said. “And today, with House Bill No. 2 passed, after speaking with someone in Elderly Affairs, meals for the elderly could be next.”
The parish council approved hiring a Capitol liaison at its March 27 meeting. The job pays $50,000 annually, and is eligible for cost of living raises and other benefits, including retirement, in subsequent years.
At that meeting, Parish Chief Administrative Officer Bo LaGrange suggested the parish council hire Smith for the job.
The proposal passed 6-5, with Councilmen Foulcard, the Rev. Craig Matthews, Gary Duhon, Steve Bierhorst and Chuck Walters voting to hire Smith.
Councilmen Logan Fromenthal, Glen Hildago, Kevin Voisin, Keith Singleton and David Hanagriff voted against it.
Former Parish Councilman Peter Soprano, who was at that meeting, also voiced opposition to Smith’s hire, calling it “illegal.”
At Wednesday’s meeting, Smith said his hire would have been illegal only if he were to work for any other agency, but not a public government entity.
Shortly after declining the offer, one of the councilmen asked Smith whom he would recommend for the job.
“Knowing that the legislature needs a laugh every now and then, I would say you should hire Peter Soprano,” Smith said.
“Oh that’s real cute Jack. Real cute. Why don’t you say that to me in the street, so I can slap the s*** out of you,” Soprano countered, repeating the comment until Smith and his wife left the council chamber.
In other business, the St . Mary Parish Council:
• Gave $4,000 to the Powerboat Association to fund powerboat racing in Morgan City Memorial Day Weekend 2008.
• Approved the re-opening of a gentlemen’s club/topless bar at 8800 Louisiana Highway 182 in the “Greenwood” area of Morgan City.
The measure had only one objection, from Matthews, who asked, “Will gentlemen be taking their tops off?”
