Voisin to challenge Claudet

After months of talking about it, Terrebonne Parish Council Chairman Clayton Voisin made his election bid official Saturday when he presented papers to run for the office of parish president against incumbent Michel Claudet.

Voisin has been a parish councilman of Dist. 7 for the past 11 years and will complete his eligibility at the end of his current term.

In a printed news release Voisin listed priorities for the parish as he sees them.

“I strongly believe the top priority for our parish is drainage,” Voisin said. “For the last three years adequate drainage has been the victim of questionable land deals, a lack of planning, and nothing more than political promises by the current administration.”

Voisin said that under his watch fiscal responsibility would be a priority. “Before I take office I will demand an independent audit of all parish spending over the last three years, and I will demand it be conducted by the Federal Inspector General and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor,” he said.

Voisin, a Democrat, has often butted heads with Republican Claudet. While Claudet credits making use of funding from natural disasters like Hurricane Gustav as ways the parish has been able to afford improvement without tax increases, Voisin has said the parish is vulnerable for receiving money from outside sources.

“I don’t want our taxpayers left holding the bag if this money was spent improperly by this administration,” Voisin said.

Claudet has gone on record as stating that he is prepared to face Voisin in a battle for the parish’s top job. “I intend on running an aggressive campaign,” Claudet has said on repeated occasions.

In turn Voisin has said of facing Claudet, “I just hope he votes like I do.”

Clayton Voisin has 11 years experience as councilman