LAPLACE — In a crowded field of candidates, longtime trial lawyer and local businessman Danny Becnel narrowly topped incumbent Natalie Robottom in the race for St. John the Baptist Parish President.

As the top two vote getters in Saturday’s primary election, Becnel and Robottom will again go in front of voters for the Nov. 21 general election. Becnel topped the field with 4,689 votes (31.8 percent,) compared to 4,549 votes (30.86 percent) for Robottom.

Following the election, Becnel was quick to point out 69 percent of people who voted this round chose a candidate other than the incumbent, which he said exemplifies a sizable disconnect that exists between local residents and the administration.

“Sixty-nine percent of the people voted against Natalie Robottom,” Becnel said. “Out of all the votes, she got 31 percent. I got 32 percent. It puts me in the driver’s seat. If people didn’t vote for her in the first go around, they aren’t going to vote for her again.”

With six candidates in the race from across the parish, Robottom said it was expected the vote would be widely split. However, she said she is confident the people of St. John recognize the progress made on important issues and will vote her in to continue that momentum.
“My administration has made enormous progress towards addressing long term problems that have plagued St. John for decades,” she said. “It’s easy to say you’re going to fix everything when you’ve never fixed anything. It’s also easy to attack someone’s work when you’ve contributed nothing.”
Robottom said St. John residents can trust her and my administration to do what’s right and to do it ethically.

“I ask voters to reject my opponent’s tactics of personal attacks and character assassination to get votes, with no plans for the parish. My record of service is proven over many years, and anyone who continues to spread false and misleading information which is contradicted by facts is unfit for public office.”
Becnel said, if elected, his No. 1 priority would be cutting expenses.

“I’m not taking a salary and I’m not taking a parish car,” he said. “I’m not taking an expense account. She makes $150,000 a year, and with benefits it’s over $200,000, plus a car and retirement.”

Coming in third following Saturday’s results was Charles Julien, who collected 3,061 votes or 20.76 percent of the turnout.

Julien told L’OBSERVATEUR he plans to endorse a candidate, but is not sure who that will be.

“I will endorse which ever one of the candidates I think will be best for the parish,” he said, adding he was disappointed but satisfied with the voting results.

“The majority spoke, and we have to respect that. I would have wanted to be the individual in the run off, but at the end of the day, the people have spoken and I’m satisfied with that.”

Whoever is elected Parish President next month, Julien said he hopes he or she has a heart for the people and listens to their concerns — “that’s what’s going to propel St. John forward.”

Early voting for the next month’s election is scheduled Nov. 7-14. The deadline to request a mail ballot for the election is Nov. 17. The Registrar’s deadline to receive the mail ballot is Nov. 20.

Rounding out the voting Saturday was Kent St. Amant with 11.52 percent, DeLisa R. Brown with 3.8 percent and Terry Gene Lewis Sr. with 1.25 percent.

— By Raquel Derganz Baker