LAPLACE — St. John Parish Councilwoman at Large Jaclyn Hotard announced this week that she will be a candidate for parish president in the upcoming Oct. 12 election.

“It has been an honor to serve the community in which I was born and raised, and I am grateful to the residents for this opportunity,” Hotard said. “Through service on our Parish Council and active community involvement, I have unique insight and understanding of how local government works and a sincere commitment to addressing the needs of our community. With millions of dollars in critical improvements underway, experienced and engaged leadership will be vitally important.”

Throughout her tenure on the Parish Council, Hotard has actively demonstrated her knowledge and understanding of how local government works and has displayed her ability to get things done. Hotard has authored and successfully passed numerous pieces of legislation that benefitted our residents. She has served well with many councils and administrations, and she has also developed strong relationships with state and federal officials.

“Working together, we must focus on improvements to our infrastructure and cultivating a positive, business friendly climate to attract more businesses and families to St. John,” she said. “As a mother, I understand how critically important it is that we work together to create a community our children will call home.”

Hurricane Isaac demonstrated Hotard’s commitment to and compassion for the people of St. John – she was on the ground rescuing residents who were trapped in floodwaters, and she spent countless hours assisting residents who were victimized by Isaac. After Hurricane Isaac, Hotard led a coalition to Washington, D.C. to convince members of Congress to overhaul the Biggert-Waters Act which, if left unchanged, would have left our area devastated without affordable flood insurance. She was also a vocal advocate for fully funding and re-aligning the West Shore Levee Project.

“Our project is now fully funded, the first of many contracts have been executed and our residents are one major step closer to their deserved flood protection,” she said.

Hotard earned a degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University and recently completed her second year of law school at the Southern University Law Center. She is a board member of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, a member of the Laplace Lion’s Club and she volunteers her time year-round to serving the community. Hotard, a lifelong resident of St. John, lives in Laplace with her husband Rusty, their three children and dog Charlie.