Swanner, Hebert headed to runoff

Spring temperatures were not enough to attract many voters to the polls Saturday, as a variety of measures were put to the public.

Voters in Lafourche Parish approved a measure to consolidate Road Sales Tax Districts 3, 5 and 6. These taxing districts, all located above the Valentine community, except for the incorporated municipalities of Lockport and Thibodaux, will now collect their one-cent sales tax as one entity as opposed to three separate ones.

The tax will remain at one-cent, as the measure was widely viewed as a housekeeping measure in an effort to make the collection of the road improvement funds easier.

The consolidation measure passed by a vote of 442 votes, or 54 percent, for to 372 votes, or 46 percent against.

Voters in Road Sales Tax District 2 in Lafourche Parish, whose geographic boundaries stretch from Valentine south to Port Fourchon, approved a measure that would drop the one-cent sales tax to a half-cent. The measure will also now include the town of Golden Meadow in the taxing district.

The reduction of the tax and inclusion of the town passed by a wide margin, 611 votes, or 84 percent, for the measure and 119 votes, or 16 percent, against the measure.

The tax for this district brings in some $4.5 million annually.

In addition, voters in Golden Meadow and Thibodaux selected new mebers to serve on their respective councils.

In Golden Meadow, interim councilman Mike Billiot was elected to serve out the term of former councilman Lawrence Mounic. Mounic stepped down last month to take a seat as a new member of the Lafourche Parish School Board.

Billiot defeated Priscilla Mounic, the former councilman’s wife, by a margin of 240 votes, or 70 percent, to 105 votes, or 30 percent, for Mounic. Should he choose, Billiot will have to seek a full four-year term when town elections are held in 2008.

In Thibodaux, voters will have to choose between Mary “Debbie” Swanner and Eddie Hebert in a run-off election for the “Seat A” position on the city council in Thibodaux.

Seeking to fill the seat left open by her deceased husband, Swanner received 322 votes for 34 percent to Hebert’s 269 votes for 28 percent. Other candidates in the race included Foye “Put” Lirette who received 217 votes for 23 percent and Huey Chiasson Jr., who received 138 votes for 15 percent of the ballots cast.

Voters in Thibodaux also approved a five-mill property tax with proceeds going toward the city’s fire protection facilities and equipment. The measure passed by a vote of 847 for and 427 against.

Voters in Terrebonne Parish also approved a 10-year, 12-mill property tax in the Schriever Fire Protection District to fund fire and emergency medical services in that area. The measure passed easily with 175 votes, or 71 percent, for and 72 votes, or 29 percent, against.

On Grand Isle, voters there continued a 10-year, five-mill property tax to fund the operations of the Grand Isle Port Commission. The measure passed by a margin of 232 votes, or 58 percent, for and 168 votes, or 42 percent, against.