Parish Council to have 6 new members this year

After 23 years serving, first as a police juror then as a parish councilman, Gary Courville, 68, is leaving an elected job he first won in what he calls a surprising election.
“I ran against Albert (Thibodeaux) and a surprising something happened. I won. So, here I was not thinking I was going to win, but I was having fun learning the process,” he said.
In October, Courville was defeated by political newcomer Colby Clavier. Clavier scored a convincing win with 57 percent percent of the Parish Council District 13 vote.
“I tried. I just couldn’t get there and you know what? Twenty-three years in office, six terms. There are some I agree with some of the time,” he said
“Maybe I’ve been there too long instead of been there long enough,” Courville said.
The turnover in the Eunice area District 13 seat is one of six in last fall’s voting.
Three council members, Ronald Buschel, District 5, Hurlin Dupre, District 6 and Pam Gautreau, District 8, did not seek re-election.
Harold Taylor replaces Bushel, Ken Marks replaces Dupre and and Vivian Sibille replaces Olivier.
Courville, Leon Robinson in District 2 and Huet Dupre in District 4 lost their re-election bids.
Nancy Carrier replaces Robinson, Mildred Thierry replaces Dupre and Clavier takes over Courville’s seat.
The council members take their oath office on Jan. 11. In the meantime, committee meetings are scheduled Wednesday.
Courville said his health hindered his bid for re-election. He had missed council meetings and when time came to campaign door-to-door it was tough, he said.
Courville was elected in 1992 to serve District 13 as a police juror.
“I was working for Mitch Ashy,” Courville said. “He said go door-to-door and leave the rest to me.”
Friends such as Judges Frank McGee and Isom J. Guillory, Charles Aguillard and James Montelaro made the campaigning process fun, he said.
Courville said he stepped into the police jury as it teetered near bankruptcy. Funds had to be paid back and the federal government named an administrator, who oversaw parish government’s finances.
Police jurors received half of their pay checks, he said.
The crisis made it even more difficult for a westside juror, he said.
“It’s always a fight to get projects in Eunice,” he said.
Perhaps one of the historical changes in St. Landry Parish Government was the Home Rule Charter, but following that was the 2013 approval of a rural sales tax to fund a 15-year road program.
Courville said he opposed property taxes in the past to pay for road programs, but the sales-tax funded Smooth Ride Home program was different and he supported it.
His support was in convincing Eunice area voters to not vote against the road program, he said.
Courville said he enjoyed the role of police juror. “I miss mingling with my workers and voters on their property.”
The police jury system allowed the jurors to get involved in day-to-day operations. Under the Home Rule Charter Parish Council members are not to be involved in day-to-day activities.
Courville said “you can’t make it personal” whether serving as a police juror or Parish Council member.
“You learn how to pick and choose your fights,” he said.
Courville was born and raised in Eunice. He is graduate of Eunice School and was a standout football player. He retired from Ashy Pipeline in 2003, he said.