October 22
October 22, 2007
Richard Weaver
October 24, 2007Terrebonne Parish voters saw a changing of the guard with the election of a new sheriff, while Lafourche Parish voters chose to stay the course and elect the incumbent to a fifth term.
Veteran Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Major Vernon Bourgeois definitively won his chance to be the next sheriff in Terrebonne by taking in 53 percent of the vote.
But the victory is special for Bourgeios for another reason. He’s following in the footsteps of a man he admires, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter.
Larpenter has been the sheriff in Terrebonne for the last two decades.
“It is really cool that this happened, because I’ve been working for him for years and he’s a great man,” Bourgeois said.
Once Bourgeois gets into office officially, he intends to keep things going in the same direction while trying to make improvements.
“The ship is tracking in the right direction,” he said.
Some of the things he has in mind are creating a public relations section, increasing patrols as they are affordable and setting up a work-release program.
Part of the way he intends to afford new patrols is by purchasing more fuel-efficient cars. But he said for law enforcement and the rural nature of the local roads, power needs to be balanced with fuel efficiency.
He also fully intends to continue the work of the anti-drinking and driving “Don’t Be a Zero” campaign.
“Whatever we can do to make our roads safer,” Bourgeois said.
But for the present, he still has a job to do as a deputy under Sheriff Larpenter.
“He’s happy for me,” Bourgeois said.
Bourgeois’ next closest rival, William “Will” Torres, Jr. garnered 37 percent.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre held onto his office with what he described as an “overwhelming, landslide” victory over his four opponents.
And Webre’s description isn’t an exaggeration. He earned his fifth term as sheriff by taking in 65 percent of the vote.
His closest challenger, Craig Jaccuzzo, mustered only 23 percent.
“The plan is to continue the course that we chartered,” said Webre. “The voters of Lafourche recognize the sheriff’s office is on the right track.”
Webre said his office has a group of well-equipped, well-educated officers and he is proud of the work they have done.
“This victory was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the sheriff’s office,” Webre said.
Webre said he saw the victory as a tremendous vindication of himself and the job he has done serving as the parish’s sheriff for the last 15 years, despite the late campaign brouhaha over the mysterious Citizens of Lafourche Against Webre Political Action Committee and Webre’s filing of a restraining order against the group for a misleading advertisement.
The election also accomplished more than just electing a sheriff. Webre said it brought attention to the parish’s jail situation, which he believes has reached a critical, bursting point.
