By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — More than 3,300 government leaders from across America will convene soon at the National Association of Counties 71st annual conference, to be held in Chicago, Aug. 4-8.

Not all attend the entire convention, according to Jackie Landeche of the St. John Parish Council staff. &#8220Most attend one or two seminars and come back. They don’t stay for the whole thing.”

Attending from St. John the Baptist Parish will be Parish President Nickie Monica, Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Robottom and Parish Council members Cleveland Farlough, Sean Roussel, Steve Lee, Lester Rainey and Ronnie Smith.

Attending from St. James Parish will be Councilmen Timothy Roussel, Elton Aubert, Ralph Patin, Charles Ketchen and council secretary Angelle Rodrigue.

Attending from St. Charles Parish will be Parish President Albert Laque; Council Members April Black, Clayton Faucheux, Desmond Hilaire, Lance Marino, Barry Minnich, G. &#8220Ram” Ramchandran; as well as Waterworks Director Robert Brou, Finance Director Lorrie Toups, RSVP Director Fay Caire, Chief Administrative Officer Tim Vial, Executive Secretary Carolyn Louviere, Public Information Director Steve Sirmon, Kim Chermie of Information Technology, Council Secretary Barbara Jacob, Purchasing Agent Susan Wilson, Danielle Honor of the council staff and Chandra Sampey of the contract monitor’s office.

The conference’s attendees will discuss and share ideas on a variety of issues, including disaster preparedness, economic development, and health insurance.

General Session speakers will include Dr. Edward Hill (immediate past president of the American Medical Association), who will speak on bird flu; and Dr. Boaz Ganor, who will speak on global terrorism.

FEMA Director R. David Paulison will speak on disaster preparedness at a Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee meeting.

Educational workshops are also planned on topics including health care, partnerships for economic opportunity, managing criminal justice system costs and data communications.