LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member Rodney Nicholas announced he is a candidate for assessor of St. John Parish.

“It has been said that, ‘the only reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do even more,’” Nicholas said. “The Assessor’s office plays a vital role in St. John Parish government, because all revenue collected from taxpayers is used to fund our school system, law enforcement, parish government, fire protection, library and numerous other vital services. I believe that our next Assessor should play a greater role in leadership and have a larger impact in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities that we face in St. John Parish.”

Nicholas is a lifelong resident of St. John Parish. He and his wife Tressa have been married for 23 years, and they have four children. Nicholas said he is an ordained minister, serving at the First Community Antioch Baptist Church in Lutcher.

“I have been retired for two years from Shell Oil Company/Motiva Enterprises, and I am currently a college professor at River Parishes Community College in Gonzales,” Nicholas said.

Nicholas said he obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University and is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy, Southern University and A&M College.

Nicholas said in his role as a School Board member he drafted and championed the St. John School Board’s new Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Policy that greatly increases women, minority and local participation in all major School Board construction contracts.

Additionally, upon being elected chairman of the St. John the Baptist Parish Economic Development Committee (EDC), he said one of his key initiatives was to accelerate the opening of the farmers market that was bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy for over four years.

“Under my leadership, the Creole Farmers’ Market on the West Bank was opened in less than a year,” he said.

Nicholas said he is seeking to make Assessor’s revaluation process fair, equitable and efficient for all St. John residents, while utilizing the latest technology available in Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal Software to meet the demands of an increasing digital society.

He wants to hold focus group sessions to educate residents, improve relations with business and industry and lead more efficient management of the Assessor’s office to facilitate better delivery of services.