By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With the runoff election for St. John Parish President only two weeks from today, both candidates have continued to rack up endorsements from parish officials as the early voting period kicks off.

The May 1 runoff pits former St. John Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Robottom against current St. John Councilman-at-Large Richard “Dale” Wolfe. Robottom and Wolfe were the top two finishers among five in the March 27 primary election to find a replacement for former Parish President Bill Hubbard. With two years left in his first term, Hubbard resigned in September before pleading guilty in federal court to taking bribes from three parish contractors. Sentencing in his case is set for June 29 in New Orleans.

On Wednesday, representatives from Wolfe’s campaign announced he has acquired the endorsement of acting Parish President Pat McTopy, who took over in Hubbard’s absence.

McTopy, a veteran administrator in St. John, said he has worked with Wolfe since the late ‘70s and early ‘80s as Wolfe served on the parish police jury and later the council.

“Mr. Wolfe has assured me he is committed to completing the $100 million in capital improvement projects the parish is presently working on,” McTopy said. “I’m confident he will put the right people in place to get the job done.”

Although he has pledged support, McTopy did not go as far as saying his job will remain intact. He said the first goal is to get past the election and eventually see what happens from there.

Meanwhile on the Robottom side, an endorsement has come in from St. John Assessor Whitney Joseph.

Joseph said Robottom’s years of experience on the local and state levels make her the best-qualified person to lead the parish in the future.

“My concern as a resident and elected official has always been for what is in the best interest of St. John Parish and its people,” Joseph said. “I believe that what we do today will be for the good of our children, grandchildren and children to come.”

One notable absence in the endorsement game is the parish’s acting chief administrative officer, Buddy Boe, who finished third in the primary election.

Boe said in a statement released Thursday that contrary to immense amounts of speculation, he has decided to stay out in the hopes that the parish residents will decide for themselves.

“The voters are smart enough to decide on their own and do not need endorsements from other public officials to tell them who is the right candidate,” Boe said. “This isn’t about politics or personal issues. This is about having someone in the office who supports the wave of capital improvement projects the parish has in the works.”

Boe said he encourages all residents to “research the candidates, their messages, and their financial supporters before making a decision in the voting booth.”