Swanner, Mounic vie for husbands’ political seats

Two Lafourche Parish women are vying for council seats previously held by their husbands.

Mary Debbie Swanner made headlines in December 2006 when she first began considering running for the Thibodaux City Council District A seat, which was left vacant following the death of her husband, Norman Swanner.

An 18-year veteran of the council, Norman Swanner died Nov. 8 of a massive heart attack. Days earlier, he had been re-elected without opposition. His full term would have started on Dec. 11, 2006.

Ironically, the 56-year-old councilman was first elected to fill the unexpired term of District A Councilman Adley Landry, who also died in office in April 2003.

Following the death of Norman Swanner, his son Douglass was tapped to the post.

But will another Swanner hold the office?

Debbie Swanner is no newcomer to campaigning; she worked closely with her husband on his campaign. “I traveled the sections with [Norman], made phone calls and other campaigning tasks for his political campaign. I think I am ready to handle my own,” she said.

This is, however, her first run for political office. She began seriously working for votes since mid-January. When asked to compare past campaigns with this outing, Debbie Swanner said “There’s no difference; it’s like he’s still here.”

The campaign slogann“A Woman’s Point of View”nis geared toward adding a female’s point of view to the council, Debbie Swanner said. Her platform, which is similar to her late husband’s, includes working on drainage and traffic flow problems and improving family recreational opportunities in the city.

Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court Vernon Rodrigue said Swanner will face Huey Chiasson Jr., Eddie Hebert and Foye Lirette for the District A seat.

Thibodaux Council’s District A spans out over north Thibodaux and west Thibodaux. There are approximately 5,000 registered voters in the district.

Golden Meadow voters will recognize the name Mounic, although a new first name will be listed on the ballot.

Priscilla Martinez Mounic is seeking election to the town’s vacant council seat once held by her husband, Lawrence Mounic, who is now serving on the Lafourche Parish School Board.

Priscilla Mounic said she has assisted with her husband’s campaign for the past 10 years. Her platform is aimed at improving citizens’ quality of life.

“I would like to get more people to move into town. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make things better for the Golden Meadow residence,” Mounic said. “We have a nice safe town and we want to keep it that way. We want to try and bring new businesses to Golden Meadow, too.”

If elected, Mounic said she will follow in her husband’s footsteps until she learns more about holding a political office.

Born and raised in Golden Meadow, Mounic has four daughters and seven grandchildren. She is a licensed practical nurse at South Lafourche Nursing Center in Cut Off. Her job as a nursing home employee and her role as a mother helps her to understand what the quality of life is truly about, Mounic said.

Also seeking election to the council seat is interim councilman Mike Billiot.

There are nearly 2,000 registered voters in the town of Golden Meadows.

The special election, which includes some tax issues, will be held parishwide on March 31. If needed, a runoff will be held May 5.

“The new council member could take office in either April or June. It depends on the election,” said Thibodaux Council Administrator Tommy Eschete.