LAPLACE — Tonia Schnyder is seeking the District 6 seat on the St. John the Baptist Parish Council in the Oct. 12 election.

“I am a lifelong resident of St. John Parish,” Schnyder said. “I am the mother of three children and two grandchildren. As a product of St. John Parish, I graduated from East St. John High School and Louisiana Technical College, completing studies in Process Technology. I have been working as a Process Operator for 20 years – currently employed with Shell Refinery.

“While employed with Dupont Dow Elastomers, Motiva Enterprises, and Shell Refinery, I was a member of the Industrial Emergency Response team for 17 years, where I also received my Pro Board Certifications. I am the former vice president of the non-profit organization Sisters of Unity, a member of the Women of Steel and Shell Black Networking Group. I am currently a local business owner in St. John parish for six years as the owner/operator of T&C’s Balloons, Etc.

“As councilwoman of District 6, I will be a voice for the people. To ensure all areas and neighborhoods are treated with the same respect and priority, I will have a working relationship with the parish administration to develop a solution with the current water meter and billing issues to ensure that residents are treated fairly and equitably.

“During Hurricane Isaac, storm surge flooded more than 7,000 homes and families in St. John Parish, especially here in District 6. I will work hard to help facilitate the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee protection project for St. John Parish, to ensure that people in St. John and especially those in Riverlands and Cambridge that were affected here in District 6 and throughout the parish will have adequate hurricane and storm surge levee protection.

“I also believe the parish needs a stronger relationship with the school system and the sheriff’s department. I would like to see the community, as a whole, working together for the betterment of the parish. I believe our facilities should be more accessible and user friendly for its residents. Our summer program should be more affordable for all families. Also, more funding and activities in our recreation department would help keep our kids off the streets.

“I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election and look forward to representing ALL of the residents of District 6 and the entire St. John Parish community.”