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• 3 candidates vie for St. John D.A. • 40th Judicial District judge faces challenge for bench • Crowded field in St. James School Board races • Passion dots races for St. John School Board Special publication of L’OBSERVATEUR

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: PAGE 5 — Three candidates have their eyes set on being St. John the Baptist Parish’s District Attorney, a spot held by incumbent Tom Daley since 2009.

PAGE 7 — An incumbent with more than two decades on the bench and a newcomer who said he thinks the parish is ready for a change make up the race for the Division B district judge’s seat in the 40th Judicial District Court in St. John the Baptist Parish.

PAGE 9 — The last time Democrats Rodney Nicholas and Matthew Ory each ran for the District 10 seat on the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, the race came down to the wire.

PAGE 9 — In the School Board race for St. John the Baptist Parish District 9, one candidate says he offers an experienced, steady hand; the other a fresh voice and new ideas, as incumbent Lowell Bacas faces challenger Shawn Wallace.

PAGE 11 — In the most contested group of races in the River Parishes, a total of 18 people qualified to run for one of the seven seats on the St. James Parish School Board.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

www.dinvaut4da.com-Dinvaut4da@gmail.com Facebook: dinvaut4da-Twitter: @ Divaut4da

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

Geri Broussard Baloney

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Bridget A. Dinvaut

Tom Daley

3 vie for St. John District Attorney

BY MONIQUE ROTH L’OBSERVATEUR

Three candidates have their eyes set on being St. John the Baptist Parish’s District Attorney, a spot held by incumbent Tom Daley since 2009.

Daley, who registered as “no party,” said “it is vital to public safety that St. John the Baptist Parish have an experienced criminal prosecutor heading (the D.A.’s) office.”

Daley said his office is one of the most productive and efficient in the state, and pointed to the first five years of his sixyear term, when his office has prosecuted 109,033 cases: 7,862 misdemeanors, 2,316 felonies and 97,816 traffic citations.

Additionally, Daley said, 1,039 DWI cases have been prosecuted with a 97.9 percent conviction rate.

“We were also recognized as being the best in Louisiana for child support enforcement in 2013,” Daley said of his office, adding more than $21 million in fines has been collected, allowing the office to be largely selfsupported.

A program to reduce the number of repeat offenders is in place, new procedures have been enacted for identifying and offering assistance to offenders with substance abuse issues, community service options are more numerous and vast improvements have been made to the D.A.’s office’s technology

systems and Internet presence, 40TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Daley said.

A licensed attorney for 36 St. John the Baptist Parish years, Daley was a judge for 18 years with service on the WESTBANK Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of EASTBANK Appeal and as a district judge District Attorney District Attorney in St. John before being elected 1710 Cannes Drive 2393 Hwy 18 D.A. in 2008.

LaPlace, LA 70068 Edgard, LA 70049 Daley said, as the most experiPhone: 985-652Phone: 985-497enced and qualified candidate, 9757 8270 he has seen “hundreds and thousands of cases in different Fax: 985-651-6753 Fax: 985-497-5575 capacities.”

He was selected as Judge of Courthouse Annex Courthouse the Year by the Louisiana Bar Arcuri Center Foundation, holds a bachelor’s 2393 Hwy 18 degree from Rutgers University, 1020 Cambridge Dr. Edgard, LA 70049 a master’s in law degree from LaPlace, LA 70068 Phone: 985-497the University of Virginia and CONTINUE ON PAGE 6

Phone: 984-652-8041

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We were also recognized as being the best in Louisiana for child support enforcement in 2013. ... It’s not an easy job. It takes someone with knowledge and experience.”

“I think we can do better as a team and in the spirit of collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office and the community.”

TOM DALEY

candidate for District Attorney

“As an attorney, a mother and a business person, I sit back and watch what happens in our community. There’s a call we can not ignore. Our youth are in crisis.”

BRIDGET A. DINVAUT

GERI BROUSSARD BALONEY candidate for District Attorney

St. John District Attorney

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a juris doctor from Loyola Law School.

Daley said his career of six years of work as an assistant district attorney, six years as a district attorney and 18 years as a judge, “puts (him) in a very unique position to deal with criminal matters.

“It’s not an easy job,” Daley said. “It takes someone with knowledge and experience.”

One of Daley’s opponents in the district attorney’s race is Bridget A. Dinvaut, who most recently served as an assistant district attorney under Daley.

She took a leave of absence from her job to participate in the 2014 election cycle.

“We were taught — my sisters and I — it is an honor to serve your community,” Dinvaut said of how her family inspired her to run for D.A. Dinvaut, a Democrat, first served the D.A.’s Office in misdemeanor courts and as a

drug prosecutor in all three 40th Judicial District Courts.

Additional responsibilities included supervision of the D.A. Office’s participation in the 40th Judicial District Drug Court Program. She also led the Division C prosecution team.

Dinvaut received a juris doctorate degree with magna cum laude honors from Southern University’s Law Center. She worked as an associate attorney with Lemle & Kelleher.

As a senior associate, Dinvaut said she represented numerous public and private clients in state and federal courts.

“My law training uniquely qualifies me with skill set to serve as D.A.,” Dinvaut said.

Dinvaut has also worked with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office as an undercover narcotics officer, was assigned to the detective bureau and earned the rank of lieutenant commander of the narcotics division.

Dinvaut said she served as a federal law enforcement officer

with the United States District Courts in the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Southern District of Florida from 1994 through 2002.

If elected, Dinvaut said she will immediately seek the “aggressive prosecution of violent and habitual offenders.

“I think we can do better as a team and in the spirit of collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office and the community,” Dinvaut said.

She said if elected she will work with the Sheriff’s Office to build better cases and work with witnesses to educate them on the importance of their participation in the criminal justice system.

Working hard to “make sure we can have an effective criminal justice system in St. John the Baptist Parish” would be her top priority if elected, Dinvaut said, adding she would also work to implement a youth intervention program as D.A. Rounding out the list of D.A.

Elect

candidates is Geri Broussard Baloney.

Prior to starting her private practice in 1997, Baloney clerked in St. John’s District Court, served as a legislative liaison and was an administrator over development and zoning matters.

Baloney, a Democrat, is a graduate of Loyola Law School and Southern University in New Orleans, and said she has nearly 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer.

“As an attorney, a mother and a business person, I sit back and watch what happens in our community,” Baloney said of her inspiration to run for D.A. “There’s a call we can not ignore. Our youth are in crisis.”

Baloney said the D.A.’s Office is currently run in a “reactive versus proactive” matter, something she would want to change.

“I don’t think we have that luxury anymore,” Baloney said, CONTINUE ON PAGE 7

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DISTRICT 6

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FROM PAGE 6

“We have to be pro-active.”

Baloney said as D.A. she would focus on the youth of St. John Parish and work to be pro-active in keeping them out of trouble, helping to “direct their path from a path to prison to a path of progress.

“We can’t ignore them,” Baloney said of the parish’s young people.

“They are our future.”

Baloney said the “truancy laws are barely enforced in this parish,” and she would work with law enforcement to create a youthadvocacy program and summeremployment initiative.

The current D.A.’s Office makes a “real effort to maintain status quo,” Baloney said. “The current administration boasts of nearly 10,000 prosecutions in the parish with a population of not much more than 40,000.

“Prosecuting the same people over and over” and focusing on who Baloney called “misdemeanites” is only “exhausting resources on petty crime.”

The election is Nov. 4, with early voting taking place at the Registrar of Voters’ office from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday and on Monday and Tuesday.

St. John Parish Registrar of Voters Rita E. Jarrow has two office locations. The east bank office is located in the Percy Hebert Building, 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and can be contacted by calling 985-652-9797. The west bank office is located in the Edgard Courthouse, 2393 River Road in Edgard, and can be contacted by calling 985-331-4559.

Mary Hotard Becnel

Robert Snyder Jr.

2 seeking St. John Judge

BY MONIQUE ROTH L’OBSERVATEUR

An incumbent with more than two decades on the bench and a newcomer who said he thinks the parish is ready for a change make up the race for the Division B district judge’s seat in the 40th Judicial District Court in St. John the Baptist Parish.

With the election less than two weeks away, candidates Judge Mary Hotard Becnel and Robert Snyder Jr. — both Democrats — said they feel supported by the community and ready to tackle the challenges a judgeship brings.

Incumbent Becnel said it has been an honor to serve

St. John Parish for over two decades.

“Every one of those 21 years has made me a better judge,” Becnel said of her career thus far as a judge, adding her experience sets her apart from Snyder.

“A fair and impartial judiciary is of great importance, and by now (residents of the parish) know that (they) can count on me,” she said. “Thanks to the people of St. John Parish for allowing me to do the job that I love.”

Becnel said she has worked in the legal system for more than 40 years, starting out as a secretary and court reporter before working her way through school CONTINUE ON PAGE 8

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “The cornerstone of our judicial system is we expect judges to be independent,” Snyder said. “People expect their judge is going to be fair and impartial. I’m not tied to politics and I’m not tied to lawyers.”

“As a judge, I have had the opportunity to observe problems in our community that cannot be solved in the normal course of business.

Therefore, I have reached out and initiated Truancy Court and CHARM School for the benefit of at-risk youth and families.”

ROBERT SNYDER JR.

MARY HOTARD BECNEL

candidate for 40th Judicial District judge

District Judge 40th Judicial District

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to become a lawyer — and ultimately — a judge.

Becnel said during her years on the bench she has taken seriously the position as a public servant beyond the specified judicial duties.

“As a judge, I have had the opportunity to observe problems in our community that cannot be solved in the normal course of business,” she said.

“Therefore, I have reached out and initiated Truancy Court and CHARM School for the benefit of at-risk youth and families.

“Truancy Court addresses the problems of families and students that are much deeper than simply failing to attend school.”

Instituted in January 2006, Becnel designed CHARM School for female juveniles charged with disruptive or ungovernable behavior. The program also reaches out to females dealing with personal and/or family issues, as well as other types of behavior problems.

Becnel said CHARM School provides females with alternatives to inappropriate behavior through instruction in good manners and conflict resolution and by defining and developing Character, Health, Attitude, Respect and Manners.

She said her record reflects her dedication to her job and serving the parish.

“I would like to continue doing so for another term,” Becnel said. “There remains a lot of work to be done, and no one will work harder for you.

Experience counts in a judicial election.”

She said it’s very hard to leave a job you love, adding “over the last few years I’ve thought about retiring, but every time I thought about life after the bench I got ill thinking about it.”

Challenging Becnel is Snyder, a native of the River Parishes, who is a graduate of Riverside Academy in Reserve. He is a former law enforcement officer who went to Louisiana State University Police Academy and also completed E.M.T. training at the River Parishes Vocational Technical School.

A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, he received his bachelor of arts in government and later graduated from Southern University Law Center, where he received his juris doctorate.

In 2000 Snyder was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association and has since maintained a legal practice working for Snyder Law Firm LLC. During that tenure, he said he has worked with prosecuting and defense attorneys, and has tried criminal jury trials acting as the defense attorney.

Snyder said he has appealed criminal matters, handled civil litigation and tried civil jury trials acting as the plaintiff’s attorney.

“I’ve covered thousands of criminal and civil cases,” Snyder said, adding he has “almost 24 years of dealing with the law.”

He said his motivation to enter the race was inspired by the community.

“I want to bring about a change,” Snyder said. “I feel as though people

in St. John Parish are ready for a change.”

He said the fact he hasn’t solicited endorsements from any lawyers, including those who may appear before him if he is elected, is one of the biggest things setting him apart from Becnel.

“The cornerstone of our judicial system is we expect judges to be independent,” Snyder said. “People expect their judge is going to be fair and impartial. I’m not tied to politics and I’m not tied to lawyers.”

Snyder said he is committed to the parish and his qualifications are solidified in the fact he has practiced the types of law primarily found in the areas the 40th Judicial District Court — including wills, successions, criminal and civil law.

“I just saw an opportunity for me to run and possibly make a change in this community,” Snyder said, adding he feels as though St. John Parish residents are “looking for new blood.”

The election is Nov. 4, with early voting taking place at the Registrar of Voters’ office from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday and on Monday and Tuesday.

St. John Parish Registrar of Voters Rita E. Jarrow has two office locations.

The east bank office is located in the Percy Hebert Building, 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, and can be contacted by calling 985-652-9797.

The west bank office is located in the Edgard Courthouse, 2393 River Road in Edgard, and can be contacted by calling 985-331-4559.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

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Nicholas, Ory trade barbs before St. John the Baptist Parish school board election

BY RYAN ARENA L’OBSERVATEUR

The last time Democrats Rodney Nicholas and Matthew Ory each ran for the District 10 seat on the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, the race came down to the wire.

Nicholas, then the challenger, unseated Ory by just a 60-vote margin in 2010.

Ory now wants to reclaim that position, though he said he originally had no intentions to run again.

“I get a lot of calls from people still thinking I’m on the Board, asking for help,” Ory said. “They’ve given me the sense that people want me back.

Honestly, since I’ve been off the Board, it’s given me a different perspective because, now that I’m just a citizen, people are more willing to share their true feelings and concerns with me.”

Ory said he believes the rebuilding of East St. John and LaPlace Elementary in the wake of Hurricane Isaac has been far too slow, adding Nicholas has played a key role in that.

“He argued against the committee recommendation, and they hired a group they never should have hired,” Ory said. “He didn’t put the children first and voted to go in another direction.

Why? I really don’t know or understand.”

Ory said he wants to help restore a positive culture during School Board meetings, which he says have become “increasingly unprofessional.”

“There’s name calling, people cut-

ting one another off, things that just shouldn’t happen in that setting,” Ory said. “The flood added a lot of tension and pressure, obviously.

“My feet are already wet, and I can hit the ground running. I understand how to move things ahead and get them done. I have a real passion for the educational process, and no matter how bad things get, I want to be part of the solution.”

Nicholas points to his district’s academic growth over the past four years as an example what he’s doing works.

“I believe that my leadership, along with other board members and a new administrative team, has moved the school district from a ‘D’ ranking up to a ‘C,’ approaching a ‘B’ all in less than four years, something my predecessor Matt Ory was unable to accomplish in his entire 16 years on the board,” Nicholas said. “I was able to do in four years what he could not accomplish in 16 years.”

Nicholas points out since he’s been on the board, the St. John School District now ranks in the state’s top tier for academic growth.

“State test score growth data shows improved academic performance,” Nicholas said. “East St. John High was the ‘Second Highest in Advance Placement Growth’ in the state of Louisiana,” Nicholas said. “West St. John High has been recognized by Newsweek Magazine, ranked 50th in the country, as one of the best high schools in the nation at preparing low-income

students for college.”

Nicholas said the main reason for this success is an increased focus on academic achievement.

“We are now focusing our resources on student proficiency, academic achievement and student learning,” Nicholas said. “The district is now investing a greater percentage of our budget on instruction. The district currently spends nearly 76 percent of its annual revenue on instruction, well exceeding the state’s goal of 70 percent.”

Ory disputes that idea, claiming Nicholas is taking credit for progress that was a direct result of work done before his tenure, led by former Superintendent Dr. Courtney Millet.

“Everything he’s taking credit for was a direct result of Dr. Millet and programs that were put in place before he was ever on the Board,” Ory said. “She’s probably the best (Superintendent) we’ve ever had and the most academically-minded we’ve ever had. They put pressure on her and made her want to step down, and Rodney was a big part of that.”

For Nicholas, a new term would mean another chance to drive for continued improvement.

“My main goals are a ‘B’ district in two years and becoming an ‘A’ district in the next five years,” he said. “My inspiration comes from my passion for educational excellence, student success and my desire to advocate on behalf of parents, students, teachers and support personnel.”

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Bacas, Wallace vie in Dist. 9

BY RYAN ARENA L’OBSERVATEUR

In the School Board race for St. John the Baptist Parish District 9, one candidate says he offers an experienced, steady hand; the other a fresh voice and new ideas, as incumbent Lowell Bacas faces challenger Shawn Wallace.

Bacas sports over 30 years of experience as a teacher and elementary school principal and has held his seat on the School Board since 2001.

Bacas ascended from teacher to principal of Leon Godchaux High School before moving on to the same position at LaPlace Elementary.

He comes from a family of educators, with a father, wife and daughter all having been involved in the profession.

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“Education has been important to me my entire adult life,” Bacas said. “I feel I’m the best candidate because I know what works and what doesn’t. I’ve been certified to do any job from Superintendent on down to teacher.”

Some of the successes Bacas notes during his tenure include the passing of three multi-million dollar bonds earmarked to improve the local school system, including a $46 million bond in 2008 and ones for $11.6 and $10.18 million in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

The last two, he said, will be used to get East St. John High School and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary up and running. Others pluses have been the technological advancements made during

his tenure, he said.

“We have one of the best, if not the very best, technological programs in the state,” Bacas said.”We’ve put a lot of money into it and I want to continue that process.”

Bacas addressed the rebuilding of East St. John High and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary and said the process has been slower than it should be. He also said he was an opponent of some of the measures that have caused the delay.

“Had I been able to get the Board to vote to hire (disaster management firm) CSRS to take the contract, which two separate committees recommended to us, students would be in East St. John right now, and Lake Pontchartrain Elementary students would be well on their way,” Bacas said.

Wallace said those backing him in District 9 feel he provides a “fresh perspective” in St. John Parish.

“They feel I won’t only be a Board member, but also a parent, because my daughter is in the St. John school system,” Wallace said. “So they feel I can see things from their viewpoint.”

Wallace wants to institute community meetings, where parents can attend to meet with teachers and administrators for face-to-face interactions.

Wallace, a lifelong resident of St. John Parish, also comes from a family of educators.

“I know what teachers are dealing with, and I know what parents are dealing with,” Wallace said. “From Common Core to our transportation issues, I can see things from

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both sides of the equation.

“I think there’s a real desire to have someone from the rankand-file representing them, someone who can understand their plight.”

Wallace said he believes in fiscal transparency, accountability and implementing the Common Core Standards in St. John the Baptist Public Schools.

Wallace also advocates pushing for comprehensive music and athletic programs at upperelementary grades. He would like to implement a feeder program for music and athletics so middle school students are prepared before entering high school.

“I understand these things benefit our children greatly,” he said. “We have an opportunity to develop that further in our district.”

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Many names thrown in St. James School Board hat

BY STEPHEN HEMELT L’OBSERVATEUR

In one of the most contested races in the River Parishes, a total of 18 people qualified to run for one of the seven seats on the St. James Parish School Board.

Included in the mix initially were all seven incumbents, but just as soon as qualifying concluded, St. James Parish School Board President Charlie Nailor, who serves District 6, announced he was not seeking re-election despite an earlier decision to qualify.

Nailor told L’OBSERVATEUR he felt forced to make the decision to step down by outside parties who questioned his district residency.

DISTRICT 1

Incumbent Diana Cantillo said her compassion and love for children inspired her to run for another term on the School Board.

A trustworthy representative, according to Cantillo, is what she offers voters, along with continued support for school district employees.

“I believe in following policy and procedure, even though I may not agree with them,” Cantillo said. “We have to follow it. I am very appreciative of having been able to serve my community these last eight years.”

Paul Taylor is challenging Cantillo for the seat, saying his role as a parent with three children in the school system and his desire to see education improve motivated his run for office.

“I’m looking at how Ascension Parish is booming and how their economy is looking strong,” Taylor said. “They are having new developments,

and St. James is a little bit stagnant.

“I want to support policies that will strengthen all schools because while the school in District 1 is ranked at a ‘C,’ there are other schools that are failing. We have to focus on strengthening all schools. I would like to raise the expectations for student learning.

When we aim high, we achieve high. I want to support policies that support achievement for all students, not just a select group of students.”

Taylor said he would push for mentoring programs for at-risk youth.

“Finally, I want to listen to the constituents and give them an opportunity to speak to me so I can directly address their concerns, rather than think that I know everything for everybody and not listen to their ideas,” Taylor said.

Messages left for candidate Darren Brack seeking comment were not returned.

DISTRICT 2

Incumbent Kenneth Foret said his love of children motivates him to stay involved.

Foret said the people of Lutcher have been very good to him, with many again requesting he run for office this election cycle.

“You have to get up early in the morning to work harder than me, because I have been involved with children in athletics and recreation all my life,” he said. “I’m not going to solve all the problems, but I’m going to address them and get some answers for my constituents.”

Peggy Richard is also seeking the District 2 seat, saying when she recently retired from a career in education that included 23 years as a teacher

and 17 years as an administrator in the central office, she knew the School Board was her next calling.

“My first job in the central office was working with the parents and supervising teachers,” she said. “I was in charge of the federal programs. I have a little bit of experience in all aspects of education.

Education-wise, I feel I’m more qualified. I have more experience in the field of education and more education in the field of education (than my opponent).

“I always had a good rapport with parents. I treated the children I taught as if they were my own children. I felt for parents, because they had difficult times, just like I had difficult times.”

DISTRICT 3

Incumbent Carol C. Lambert said her inspiration to become a School Board member began with the upbringing and education of her daughters, who both were Lutcher High School honor graduates who have established careers and families of their own.

“For the eight cumulative years that my daughters attended LHS, I served as president of the Parent-Teacher-StudentCommunity Organization,” she said. “Through my tenure as PTSCO President, there was an increase in parental involvement to assist with school and student events and attendance at PTSCO meetings.”

During her time on the Board, Lambert said, the gap has been bridged between East and West Bank schools and facilities with the opportunity for the students to attend the Science & Math Academy on the West Bank and the Career & Technology Center on the East Bank.

“New opportunities for students are continuing to be provided with the recent additions of the Gramercy Magnet School, the Virtual School Program, the HOPE Program, the Dual Enrollment Program, the Gifted and Talented Program and the Jump Start Program,” Lambert said.

Sue Bienvenu Beier, a teacher at St. Peter Chanel, is also seeking the District 3 seat, saying she believes she is being called to serve the children and the teachers of St. James Parish.

“God has been a big part of my life and guided me along the way,” Beier said. “I decided to follow my heart and give it my best. I’m excited and hopeful I’ll be able to serve my community and give back to it. I am a candidate with 21 years of teaching experience.”

Beier said she has served for 17 years a Junior Beta sponsor and has worked diligently to instill in her own children the importance or service to others, especially in the community.

“I’m a team captain for our local Relay for Life and have been for nearly 15 years,” she said. “I feel my experience within education and the many years working with children and teachers in our community have made me a worthy candidate for this position.”

DISTRICT 4

Incumbent George Nassar Jr. said the desire to complete ongoing projects is motivating him to seek office, including work with the Justice Department to have the parish’s desegregation order repealed, which has been intact for decades.

“We’re working towards unitary status, and that is one of CONTINUE ON PAGE 12

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FROM PAGE 11

the things that I want to see complete,” Nassar said. “There are a lot of changes with Common Core and some of the implementations of new subject matter, be it Eureka Math and the new ELA program.

“I think with the experience I can bring to the table, we can help our employees get through some of the difficulty that we are having with the implementation of Common Core and new subject matter.”

If reelected, Nassar said he would continue to support the parish’s Jump Start Program and efforts to offer courses for high school students that allow them employment opportunities post-high school in local industry should they choose not to continue their education in college.

“We have to give these kids an avenue to be productive citizens,” he said. “I think with my experience in industry and being on the Board for 20 years, I can help offer what these kids need to have a productive life.”

Challenger Jared Amato said he has been involved with St. James Parish schools for 30 years, including leadership roles with the Quarterback Club and Bulldog Foundation.

Amato previously ran for School Board in District 3, and resides in District 4 following redistricting.

“What really convinced me to run again was two years ago 76 percent of the voters in St. James Parish chose the termlimit option for School Board members,” Amato said. “I just felt it seems the population of voters wants new blood.

“I’m a lot younger than some of the other (candidates), comparatively speaking. I’m real assessable in the community, active and work in Lutcher.”

Amato said he feels he is more in touch with parents that have

Secretary of State Tom Schedler is encouraging all Louisianians eligible to vote in the Nov. 4 Congressional Primary Election to consider voting early. Early voting continues through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday. Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters’ Office. For a listing of early voting locations, visit sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/ EarlyVotingLocations.aspx.

children in school and that accessibility gives him more insight to their concerns and what direction they want the school system to go.

Attempts to reach Michael Green, who is also seeking the District 4 seat, were unsuccessful. The qualifying number listed for him with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office has been disconnected.

Spencer said, if elected, voters could count on her to stay on top of the issues.

“I will be somebody who will make the issues known to the public, who is affected by these changes that are taking place,” Spencer said.

Phone and email messages seeking comment from District 5 incumbent Patricia Schexnayder were not returned.

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 6

Challenger Diane Spencer said her inspiration for seeking the District 5 School Board seat began with her work to keep Fifth Ward Elementary running.

“I figured if I’m doing that much, I might as well be a School Board member,” Spencer said. “We halted (the closure). I got a few friends together, and we met with the superintendent on several occasions, and he decided not to close the school.”

Candidate Frieda Boughton said she was inspired to run for office, because she felt St. James Parish had a school system but it could be better.

“We’ve been in this parish 51 years, and in those 51 years, my family has been in the education system in one form or the other,” Boughton said. “My husband was in it for 37 years as coach, then principal of a high school, then superintendent

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014

of schools. I have a daughter who still teaches at St. James High School. My son-in-law just retired from the school system, and my son is the finance manager for St. John Schools. I felt like I had a good background for the job.”

Boughton said, if elected, she will work to foster a congenial board that will work for the good of the East and West Bank.

Candidate Tyler Jasmin said his age, at 25, allows him to know what’s going on at local schools, as well as with students and community members.

“I am very hands on by volunteering at schools, working with kids and talking to folks,” he said. “I don’t feel like my opponent does that, because no one has ever seen her around my community.

“What inspired me to run for office was the kids and the community. I just felt they needed a change, and I wanted to bring something new and fresh to my community and the School Board.”

DISTRICT 7

Incumbent Ricky Reulet said his 16 years of service on the School Board has shown he is always accessible and a regular participant at school district functions.

“I want to see the project with St. James High School go through to completion,” Reulet said of the school’s eventual move. “I give 100 percent to the job, and I’m going to continue to keep supporting the academic programs.”

Reulet has been a staunch supporter of the School District’s fiscal responsibility, maintaining many times it is the School Board’s responsibility to be good stewards of the parish’s tax support.

Messages left seeking comments from challengers Carlos Charles and Raymond Gros Jr. were not returned.