Editor and Publisher

LAPLACE - Natalie Robottom ties herself closely to the St. John Parish government she has been the chief administrative officer for. She says it has prepared her to become the next parish president.

But Bill Hubbard believes the lack of accomplishments and progress by the parish government is the reason she shouldn't move into the top seat. Bill Hubbard touts himself as a “businessman with a plan” for St. John government, and says he will run the parish more like a business to get things done if elected.

Robottom responds by saying “government is not a business and you can't run it like one.”

Those were the opening statements from the top two candidates as round two of the fall elections continue, with both seeking the position of St. John parish president, after Hubbard finished first and Robottom second in the primary election held this past Saturday.

The runoff will be on Saturday, November 17.

The two candidates couldn't be more different in terms of experience as they hope to woo a large number of votes from the six other candidates to their camp.

With incumbent Parish President Nickie Monica leaving office due to term limits, the open position brought in a wide variety of candidates with eight in the field. There were a host of former public officials, current public officials, even a pastor, and then Hubbard as the main candidate running on his platform of never running for public office, but offering his business success to make parish government more efficient.

Hubbard took first place in the primary with 4,313 votes for 29 percent, while Robottom finished a close second with 4,110 votes for 27 percent. The closest other entry had only 11 percent.

Hubbard highlighted the fact that he ran a “clean, positive campaign,” focusing on what he will do as parish president.

“I was actually pleasantly surprised to see we finished first. We were sure it would be Natalie and myself in the runoff, but even I was a little surprised to see we were first. I think it proves people are really ready for a change, and my business plan brings that.”

Hubbard said his number one priority will be to develop a better working relationship with the Parish Council, where decisions are ultimately made.

“That has always been an us versus them situation between the council and the administration,” he said. “My ability to get along with people will be key to getting things done. In the past the council has led the parish, but I think the administration needs to lead in that area.”

Robottom believes Hubbard's “business approach” is flawed since she sees problems with making that work in government.

“Government is not a business and you can't run it like that,” she said, clearly attacking Hubbard's basic platform from the start of the campaign. “There are checks and balances in government, and there is a reason for that. In business you can hire who you want, award contracts to who you want and the goal is to make money. Only a businessman with no experience in government would say that you can run government like that.”

However Robottom did agree that many people obviously still must have liked the sound of the approach.

“If someone said that to me, that they would run government like a business, I'd like the sound of it at first myself,” she said. “But it doesn't work so easily like that. We have to follow procedures for bids, follow regulations and many other things.”

Hubbard felt like Robottom's lack of business experience was the very reason she didn't understand his platform.

“She has never run a business, and we're not going to run the parish to make money,” he said. “But the parish has income, and it has to be used to provide the absolute best services to the public that we can. That is what I would do. I'm quite aware that I can't make decisions by myself, but that's why I think my experience working with people will help me get decisions made with the Parish Council.”

Robottom's key issues if elected parish president are to “manage growth, which means having a good infrastructure. And have better planning so we can direct the growth, especially with our schools. I agree that there have been holdups getting some things done, but that's because so many of the council members can't get along with each other. I think I can help that to improve.”

In the runoff, Robottom says it will be a matter of making sure more people get out to vote.

“Bill worked hard to get to the position he is in, but so did I. Now I will focus on the fact that I have experience in government and I'm the candidate who can move this parish forward,” she said.

Hubbard thinks the simple fact that people are fed up with the status quo will be to his advantage.

“It's obvious, people want a change. We will continue with our positive message, since I believe people clearly see me as the true change for St. John Parish,” he said.