Saturday’s election decides local leadership
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, November 13, 2019
LAPLACE — Most campaign signs have come down, but election season isn’t over until Saturday evening. In addition to selecting the governor and secretary of state, St. John the Baptist Parish voters are also tasked with electing the next Parish Council District 4 and At-Large Division B representatives.
Tyra Duhé-Griffin and Frank Alexis Jr. are in the running for District 4, hoping to represent residents in LaPlace Park, Sugar Ridge, Foxwood, the Grove and other areas of LaPlace. Michael P. Wright and Marvin “Butch” Perrilloux are running for At-Large Division B to represent approximately half of the St. John Parish population.
Parish Council District 4
Tyra Duhé-Griffin got 48 percent of the vote in the Oct. 12 election, falling just short of the majority required for the Parish Council District 4 seat. She was very humbled by the 48 percent she received in the primary, and she looks forward to seeing the election results on Saturday.
“I am very excited about the numbers in early voting and that our community is truly grasping that our vote is our voice,” Duhé-Griffin said.
“We want to continue to see the strong numbers and even stronger numbers this Saturday. I’ve gotten this far because of the many people who have worked tirelessly on my behalf. Family, friends and so many people throughout the community continue to support my campaign, and I could not be more grateful. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.”
Duhé-Griffin works as a master teacher at LaPlace Elementary. If elected, she plans to foster transparency and ensure the local government makes fiscally responsible decisions. She would create recreational activities for children, adults and seniors. She also plans to fortify economic development, raise local property values with beautification efforts, and make public safety a priority in monitoring air emissions.
Duhé-Griffin is inspired by the quote, “The race is not given to the swift, or the strong, but to the one who endures to the end,” Ecclesiastes 9:11.
Frank Alexis Jr. had 27 percent of the vote in the Oct. 12 election, and his team has been working diligently to see higher numbers in the run-off.
With decades of experience in accounting, Alexis said he has the skills to effectively manage a $100 million budget. He believes government is a business and should be run as such to ensure wise spending of public dollars.
Fiscal responsibility goes hand-in-hand with monitoring the progress of the West Shore Levee Project as construction contracts are awarded.
Internal street flooding, however, will not be fully resolved with the levee investment.
“The issues are pretty much the same,” Alexis said. “We need to get down to the nuts and bolts to see what we can do to alleviate this problem.”
Beyond the fundamental water issues, Alexis believes business development is a priority. Alexis proposes putting together a committee of industry representatives, real estate professionals and members of the business community to conduct market research on which businesses the community can sustain.
If elected, Alexis also plans to improve the St. John Parish Disaster Recovery plan and promote the enforcement of juvenile curfews.
“We feel pretty confident,” Alexis said. “It’s been a long journey. It’s been exciting and a learning experience. We appreciate all of the support, and we look forward to continuing to work with District 4.”
At-Large Division B
Michael P. Wright secured 43 percent of the vote for Councilman At-Large Division B in the Oct. 12 election. For the past eight years, he has been the elected representative for Parish Council District 5. He’s served as Council Chairman and Vice Chairman, and he currently represents St. John on the Regional Planning Commission.
During his tenure, he has built strong relationships with local, state and federal officials for St. John, including advocating for the $750 million levee project now under construction.
“I was at ground zero for one of the biggest natural disasters in St. John history, rescuing and aiding residents of our parish,” Wright said. “I secured millions of dollars for recreation and park improvements as well as drainage, water and infrastructure projects — however, there is still much more work to be done.”
Drainage improvements and water meter installations will be crucial to the next administration, Wright said. Parish leaders must relocate the LaPlace water system and be accountable for every water bill, he said. Working with community stakeholders to provide opportunities for children and streamlining the planning and zoning process are also priorities.
“I have the skillset and energy to unite our parish that has been divided for too long – I’d be honored to represent the residents of St. John for four more years,” Wright said.
Marvin “Butch” Perrilloux secured 31 percent of the vote for Councilman At-Large Division B in the Oct. 12 election. For the past eight years, he has been the elected representative for Parish Council District 4.
Perrilloux cited drainage, recreation and economic development as the priorities for St. John Parish. He said solutions for drainage include cleaning out artery canals, installing pumps and requesting help from Washington D.C. to petition the railroads to clean along tracks and culverts.
Recreation should be expanded to include elders, the handicapped and special needs children, Perrilloux said. He proposes retrofitting the community center for volleyball games, home and garden shows, car shows and mini conventions. In terms of economic development, Perrilloux would like to see businesses like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Wayfair and Amazon stores come to St. John Parish.
“So much is at stake in St. John the Baptist Parish, and you need an experienced person to address these needs,” Perrilloux said. “You need a people person who is not afraid to address the issues that face us here in the parish. What you get is someone that’s inclusive, transparent, a communicator, tours the district, visible, answers the phone and comes to your house.”
