By CHRISTOPHER LENOIS and LEONARD GRAY

Being a close neighbor of New Orleans, most of the legislators from the River Parishes decided they would prefer to have the weekend to themselves, rather than participate in the three-day junket courtesy of the Crescent City’s hospitality industry.

“For the last 15 or 20 years, I’ve gone to New Orleans every other week or every other month,” said Dist. 57 Rep. Robert “Bobby” Faucheux Jr., who said he went turkey hunting with a colleague on Saturday, and spent Sunday with his family. “I’ve already seen what they’re going to show.”

Sen. Joel Chaisson of Destrehan echoed Faucheux’s comments, “I had more important things to do. “I’m close enough to New Orleans, I don’t need to be educated about it.”

Sen. Louis Lambert thought very little of the matter, only commenting through officials in his office that he had other plans for the weekend and was out of town. Rep. Gary Smith from Norco did not return messages as to whether he attended or not.

Rep. Roy Quezaire of Dist. 58 was the only confirmed attendee from the area among the 35 or so legislators that took advantage of heavily discounted rooms at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, and complimentary dining at some of the city’s most renowned restaurants.

And despite critical comments from some of his legislative colleagues about the value of the trip, he declared it a success.

“What we saw was the nuts and bolts of the engine for economic impact,” said Quezaire, who added that it did not cost the taxpayers anything. “It was a wholesome, educational and enlightening experience.”

Quezaire described the itinerary, which included tours of the Port of New Orleans, the Ernest Morial Convention Center, the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Arena, as anything but pleasurable.

“We left the room in the morning and we wouldn’t get back until dinner time. Which is about 7 p.m. in New Orleans,” said Quezaire. “We’d shower and change into a suit and tie. Then we’d stand in a room for an hour and half meeting with industry leaders before dinner. Eating late at night is not one of my things. So it’s miserable for me.”

Quezaire described the port tour, conducted by bus, as an “awesome” experience, and said he was impressed at the economic potential offered by plans to expand the Convention Center. Though he said he also was impressed with the Superdome and New Orleans Arena, he still would not change his vote on keeping the funding for their construction coming from local taxes.

“I lost three health units in my district last year. That’s more important to me,” he said.

Quezaire said he understood his colleagues concern about the trip, particularly those from the northern area of the state.

“It’s hard to comprehend if you live above Interstate 10,” he said. “But let’s face it – New Orleans being the number one city in the state in the eyes of the rest of the country and the rest of the world – as it goes, so does the state.”