VOTERS CHANGE SHAPE OF TERREBONNE SCHOOL BOARD

Men on a mission: Volunteers brave winds, seas to bring home vessel, honor veterans
November 14, 2018
Wayne Naquin
November 15, 2018
Men on a mission: Volunteers brave winds, seas to bring home vessel, honor veterans
November 14, 2018
Wayne Naquin
November 15, 2018

Upsets marked the vote tallies in Terrebonne Parish School Board elections last week, with three incumbents knocked out of the box altogether, including two who were veterans of long standing.


An additional longtime member is facing his challenger in a Dec. 8 runoff.

District 1 representative Roosevelt Thomas was bested by challenger Mike Lagarde, who drew 53 percent of the vote. Both are Democrats. In District 3 Republican Matthew Ford drew 71 percent of the vote, unseating incumbent Democrat Richard “Dicky” Jackson; Donald “Don” Duplantis, the long-time District 8 school board member, who is a Republican, was roundly defeated by Republican challenger MayBelle Trahan, who drew 62%.

Vicki Bonvillain, the District 9 representative and a freshman member up for her second term, only drew 25 percent of the vote. Sarina Lirette earned 10 percent. The victor was Dane Voisin, with 65 percent. All are Republicans.


Voters in District 6 will return to the polls Dec. 8 for a runoff between veteran board member L.P. Bordelon and challenger Clyde Hamner. Bordelon received 22 percent of the vote in a crowded field, bested numerically by Hamner, with 47 percent of the vote. Because neither reached the threshold of 50 percent plus one, the runoff is required.

The other challengers drew 32 percent of the vote combined.

Gary Hutchinson received 5 percent; Steven Schexnayder 13 percent, and Marue Soudelier 14 percent.


All candidates in that race were Republicans, except Schexnayder, who has no party

affiliation.

“Terrebonne Parish has been super good to me,” said Bordelon, who has held the seat since 2002. “I come from a little town in central Louisiana and married a girl from Schriever. “As an educator I have served every position known, teacher, principal, and assistant principal. I have enjoyed the work and enjoyed working with the people in Terrebonne Parish. I just couldn’t give up at this point and I feel I have something still to offer.”


Hamner was a teacher and administrator within the parish school system for 33 years. He last ran for the school board in 2014. The upsets in this year’s general elections, he said, are indicative of a specific desire among voters.

“I think all across the parish people are seeking change,” Hamner said. “This time around parish-wide people are looking for change in the school board.”

“They want a school board that is accessible, they want the board to hold the superintendent accountable and they don’t want the board to be meddling in the school business,” Hamner continued. “They would rather see our board make policy and approve the budget, hire, fire and evaluate. They want them to do the job they were elected to do with the money they have been given.”


Bordelon said he is not sure what kind of change voters might be seeking. As for accountability, he countered that school board meetings are poorly attended but certainly open. And he has not heard criticism of the job he or other current board members are doing.

“I don’t understand the statements about change, I don’t know why they would want a change,” Bordelon said. “Change is a word that has been used in every slogan for many officials running for office. All of the people that ran against me, I have never seen them at a school board meeting, never had a phone call that this or that is not working, or you should change this. People do not participate in the process.”

Bordelon defended his record and those of other current board members.


“This is the best it has ever been,” he said. “It’s the best academically. We can’t give a lot of credit for that to the board members, however. I would rather give the credit to the teachers. But you have to have a board that is willing to back the teachers up, and which selects a superintendent who is aggressive and not afraid, and to go after what is best for the kids.”

Hamner said he wants to make clear that while he is seeking Bordelon’s seat, the veteran board member is someone he admires and respects. And while Bordelon wishes passionately to retain his spot, he does not take the challenge personally, nor the election showing thus far.

“I am not bitter, I have had a great career,” he said. “The sun rises the next day whether you are there or not.”


The Terrebonne Parish School Board will have several new members after last Tuesday’s election. Incumbents who lost said they are not bitter about defeat, thanking the public for the ability to serve in the post.

COURTESY