Lafourche Parish Facts And Opinions

The youngest governor ever elected in Louisiana took his oath of office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, yesterday.  The 55th governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, ran on a platform of ethics reform.

OPINIONS:

It is my opinion that Governor Jindal will be left at the gate over the next four years.  Why do I feel this way?  It was reported by the media that the Governor allowed several lobbyist groups to pay for the celebration of the “OATH-OF-OFFICE” festivities.
Former Governor Foster, stated that Governor Jindal’s Cabinet are mostly young and lacking in government experience (Foster on Channel 9 News in Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Governor Jindal’s “CHIEF-OF-Staff” completed his last 2 years of high school by home schooling and has no college, according to media sources.  What kind of message is the Governor sending out to our young people?  To the Louisiana public education system?
Why did the Governor appoint a person from Florida to head up the “LOUISIANA” department of health?
In my opinion, we have too many laws at every level of government (Federal, State, Local, and municipal).  It appears that when a situation like corrupted elected or public officials become a focus by the citizens of the state, someone decides to legislate more laws.  Maybe, just maybe, if existing laws were enforced and more violators were indicted, there would not be a need for more laws.  What lead the Governor into believing that the additional laws will be enforced?  If the Governor is sincere in wanting to stop public corruption in Louisiana, he can begin “NOW”, in Lafourche Parish, without any additional legislation.  
I hope that I am proven wrong in my opinion, but a flawed start usually turn out to be a flawed administration.  Just ask Lafourche Parish President, Charlotte Randolph.  All comments are welcome.  

Most home mortgages for new homes are for 30 years.  At the end of 30 years, that same home appreciated in most cases to double the original cost.  Lafourche Parish need a new jail.  Why?  Why did the Sheriff’s department allow the present jail to become so deplorable in a mere 32 years?  The present jail was a state-of-the-art facility when built.  Why did the Louisiana Department of Corrections discover over 40 violations, if the sheriff and his staff are as proficient and professional as Sheriff Webre claims?  The “LIES” march on with the Lafourche First Political “TRINITY”(Craig, Charlotte, and Cam).

OPINIONS:

Larry, Larry, Larry, did you really report a false broken water line at the parish detention center in Thibodaux?  Was this done in order to have the prisoners transferred before the December 31st deadline given by the department of corrections, for correcting the violations?  Could the present condition of the jail lead tax payers to conclude that the sheriff may be guilty of allegedly misusing (FRAUDELENT) public funds?  What is this alleged new instant-built jail scheme?  Why are we still talking about a new jail?
Why did Charlotte Randolph rent a large portable air conditioner unit for the court house when a new system would have been less expensive?  Why did Charlotte rent the unit from an out-of state company when she could have rented one within Lafourche Parish for less?  The unnecessary waste on the bladders, a/c, and travel could have been used to up-grade the jail.  Why was it so important to waste tax-payers money on the old building purchased for the DA/Sheriff (PINK ELEPHANT) office building?  Craig and Cam never mentioned the jail once while they were trying to get dedicated funds for the library to purchase their building. Cam and Craig didn’t mention the jail when they received health unit funds (dedicated to babies and senior citizens) to purchase their office complex.  Why don’t they place the prisoners in the office building and the DA/sheriff in the jail?  The alleged fraud and waste by the political trinity would go a long way toward a new detention facility.  We (the tax payers) believe that “BIG BROTHER” will come into Lafourche and perform an exodus of the “POLITICAL TRINITY”.

The present day Lafourche Parish Home Rule Charter states under TERM OF OFFICE:
     The president and each other council member shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.  The terms shall begin at 12:01 AM of January first in the year following the election.

OPINIONS:

The Lafourche Parish District Attorney, Cam Morvant, held a meeting at 5:30 PM on Thursday, January 3, 2008.  The purpose of the meeting was to advise elected officials and public employees of the state ethics laws and Parish Charter.  The interesting part of the meeting was when the DA (according to sources who were present at the meeting) stated for the first time in public, that the “THE COUNCIL FIVE WERE RIGHT”.  During the 2000-2004 council, the Parish President filed litigation against the council.  The council voted 5 to 4 against siding with the Parish President and the five were victorious over the Parish President in litigation.  The ruling was made public in December of 2003.  The five called for a special meeting before their term was due to expire in January of 2004.

All comments are welcome.  Check the public records not the media reports.

FACTS:

The Lafourche Parish President will soon submit names as a recommendation for the Parish Department Head Positions.  It will then become the responsibility of the Lafourche Parish Council to either accept or reject the Parish President’s recommendations.

OPINIONS:

It is rumored that 3 of the present department heads may not be accepted by the Lafourche Parish Council.  The rejection, if it becomes a reality has merit.
Head of the Department of Public Works, Ray Cheramie, is one who is rumored to be on his way out.  Over the last four years, it is my opinion that Mr. Cheramie has proven to be self-serving and unqualified for his position.  His former employer, Mr. Danos, who served as Secretary/Treasurer of Lafourche First is rumored to have been instrumental in obtaining the position for Mr. Cheramie.  Hopefully this new Council will not be intimidated by members of Lafourche First.
Head of the Department of Recreation, Brennan Matherne, is said to be on his way out.  In my opinion, while employed by KLRZ Radio, Matherne pulled many underhanded stunts to help Lafourche First get their people elected.  His reward is his present employment.  In my opinion, Mr. Matherne is still very far from being qualified for his present position.  It is alleged that he was part of several wrong doings that took place under the Randolph administration.  I often wondered why the recreation director was used to oversee construction projects.
Finally, a former member of Lafourche First, Cullen Curole, who is the Parish Administrator, may be on his way out.  In my opinion, Mr. Curole, an attorney, should have been able, as administrator, to prevent the Randolph administration from wasting tax payers money on their many blunders.
In my opinion, the tax payers can thank Lafourche First for providing Lafourche with three individuals who knows nothing about nothing and allegedly placed Lafourche Parish in the embarrassing position it is in today.  Thank you for your comments.

An article appearing in the Daily Comet dated October 20, 2003 entitled “New Councilman ready For Post”, by Emilie Bahr, turns out to be a bad joke after four years.  An article appearing in the Daily Comet dated January 2, 2008 entitled “500,000 in Taxpayer Money Earmarked to pave Private Road”, by Ben Lundin, expose the embarrassment Brent Callais has brought on Lafourche Parish.

OPINION:

In the 2003 article, Lafourche Parish Councilman Brent Callais stated that he was a lumber broker with Dufrene’s Building Material.  Why didn’t Mr. Callais state that he was working for Chouest?  Excerpts from the 2003 article reads, “Edwards and the King Fish have long been political heroes of Callais”.  “Callais has studied the masters, reinventing some of the styles of his political icons”.  “Callais said he hopes to travel to Pamplona, Spain, next year to run with the bulls”.
In my opinion, the only bull Callais had anything to do with was the “BULL” he fed the tax payers of Lafourche Parish.  In my opinion, the Feds may still investigate the Bladder fiasco and Mr. Callais may end up with one of his political icons.
In the 2008 article, Callais is referred to as a consultant for a professional basketball team.  Why didn’t Mr. Callais state that he is working for Chouest?
The 2008 article states that Mr. Callais is in favor of spending tax payers money on his “ALLEGED” employer”s private road.
Why didn’t Mr. Callais ear-mark money to pave a gravel public road (Clovelly Road)within his district? Clovelly Road is used by the general public every day.  It leads to the only public boat launch on the east side of Bayou Lafourche, located within the district.  Clovelly Road also serves as access to the South Lafourche Levee system.  Priority or employment?
Do you think Callais have a future in politics or will he and Gary ride off into the sunset and retire in the “MAGIC KINGDOM”?  ”At Disney World”? Your comments are welcomed.