Satellite political forum final one prior to primary vote

The Satellite Civic and Social Club’s political forum Monday night was like most such events -- candidates re-hashed much of what they’ve said in two months of campaigning but did generate some news.
The 200 or so on hand learned:
Some city judge candidates would do away with night court or schedule Saturday court; some chief of police candidates would encourage or require officers to live in town; the city administration is considering a water park at the Sittig Road Rec Center.
The format for the forum allowed each candidate opening and closing remarks, as well as a time response to three questions from panelists Carlton N. Frank, Jr., Lee Edwards and Wendall Prudhomme.
The large crowd, and most of the candidates, stayed for the three-hour duration, remaining until District Attorney Earl Taylor and challenger Ellis Daigle wrapped up the night.
As they have from the get-go, Taylor and Daigle remained in disagreement over the DA Office’s track record during Taylor’s three terms.
Questions posed to the two, and paraphrased answers:
What will be your first priority if elected, or re-elected:
Daigle: Have more trials. There has been only one since October 2013 and there are 15 assistant district attorneys. The bargaining process is allowing criminals back on the street, which is why some violent crimes are happening.
Taylor: A conviction is a conviction, by trial or by plea. Over 600 this year have pleaded as charged. The DA can’t prevent guilty pleas. It’s a false issue.
What are values that will shape or shape you as DA?
Daigle: Hard work, respect, compassion, justice for all. Don’t want to put everyone in jail, but repeaters, yes.
Taylor: Fairness, independence of any other office.
What is No. 1 problem in prosecution?
Daigle: Some of those charged with multiple crimes are being released, or put in diversion, where they pay fees and are released.
Taylor: Drug- or alcohol-related crime. Will continue to try to get treatment for those offenders.
Daigle closing remarks: Doesn’t think the no-plea bargain policy statement is correct, and understand a judge from outside the parish has made recent statement about that . I dispute the no-bargaining policy.
Taylor: Being DA is about more than putting people in jail. It’s knowing when they deserve a second chance.

Other campaigns and candidates on the program:
Eunice City Judge
Why are you a candidate:
Josie Frank: Running because of 34 years’ experience in all areas of law, including prosecution, defense, arbitration, hearing officer and years as School Board member, including president.
Terry Hoychick: After prayer and deliberation feels God led him to. Wants to reach young people before they get into the justice system.
Jay Caswell: Significant portion of his legal career has been in service in City Court. Have the tools, temperament and desire.
Paul Brown: Work as prosecutor in City Court, particularly in juvenile matters, led him to run. Want to bring juvenile drug court to city.
Any plans for schedule change in court hours?
Frank: Don’t think families should be in court at night. Will hold no court sessions past 6 p.m.; will offer court two Saturdays a month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Hoychick: No one likes the long Monday nights. Will limit his private practice and move all court to week days. No Saturday court.
Caswell: Working until 3 a.m. on Monday night sessions not pleasant. Will have no private practice, devote entire working schedule to City Court. Want to increase civil matters limit to allow more cases.
Brown: Not as simple as just changing hours. Understand reason for Monday night issues. Something to look at, but want to be sure crime victims who have to appear in court are for it.
What would be two primary areas of focus?
Frank: Reduce repeat offenders. Get GED program back; offer sobriety program.
Hoychick: Education, counseling for alternatives to criminal lifestyle. More organization, technology.
Caswell: Bring in disenfranchised; establish Sober Education Accountable Motivated for Success (SEAMS) Power Center for children and adults.

Eunice City Marshal
What are duties and responsibilities?
Ronnie Valenta: Serve papers, warrants, help City Court.
Terry Darbonne: branch of City Court, do court functions, assist other agencies; full law enforcement office, similar to a parish sheriff’s office.
Would you hire African Americans?
Valenta: Certainly. Need more diversity.
Darbonne: Have two African Americans on staff.
Why do you want to be elected/re-elected?
Valenta: Want to make some changes. Would like to restore junior marshal program.
Darbonne: Enjoy public service and want to continue professionalism in the office.

Eunice Chief of Police
Why do you want to be chief, and what is first priority after election/
Raymond “Bubba” Cole: Continue doing what I like doing (retired police detective); first task is public relations.
Bart Thibodeaux: Am a career law enforcement officer (former city, retired federal officer) and want to serve community; first priority is personnel, including some young officers who have no respect for public.
Joseph “Jo Jo” Reed: All my life have been helping people; first priority a real open door policy; get with other city officials and work together.
Randy Fontenot: Always have hoped to be chief (retired for Eunice PD); redefine role to protect and serve, with common sense.
Ronald Dies: Want to complete unfinished job after one term. Officers go to academy.
What is your opinion of hiring out of towners as officers?
Cole: If qualified, it’s okay. Try them out during probation period, but need leadership.
Thibodeaux: No problem from anywhere. Do have problem with them driving back and forth to other cities in our cars. Bring them here.
Reed: No problem, but prefer local residents who know Eunice.
Fontenot: Have problem with living out of town and taking cars out. Officers are on duty-on call all the time. Keep them here, keep their payroll here.
Dies: Dreams are big. Wish we had a perfect world, but it’s not. We have to pick from applicants eligible and available. They’re not staying for our $9.75 hourly without transportation. It won’t happen.
How would you address the harassment issue?
Cole: Deal with the party at fault, whichever it is.
Thibodeaux: Starts with parents. If they don’t take care of kids, they end up with us (police). Have to deal with officers and public the same way.
Reed: Need more body cameras. Officers need to be more publicly available and mingle more.
Fontenot: Training creates professionalism; fair and consistent policy enforcement and leadership by example.
Dies: Body cameras have changed the complaint environment. Discipline when discipline is deserved. Respect all parties.

Eunice alderman at-large
What are your plans for getting more jobs for residents?
Chawana Fontenot: The answer is in local businesses doing well. If we shop and spend here, that creates jobs.
Jack Burson: Biggest employers are hometown guys; have to provide training to prepare people for jobs we have or will have.
Will you work to provide at least one municipal swimming pool?
Fontenot: Was hard decision to close them (while she was Ward 3 council member), but attendance had dropped and cost was very high. Water parks are now a possibility, but pool costs are high.
Burson: Pools were cost prohibitive. Waterpark at the Sittig Road recreation complex is at top of administration’s list now.
What is your first priority after election?
Fontenot: Street lights, cleaning out ditches to improve drainage, next recreation plan phase, which includes basketball gym.
Burson: Have to stay within dollars available. Tax base is only 11.5 mills (compares to up to 30 mills in some cities). Public has to want to do more. No. 1 with him would be major streets bond issue.

Alderman, Ward 1
What is ward’s No. 1 problem and what is plan to solve it?
Jeremy Ortego: Drainage; work with engineers.
Marshall Thibodeaux: Property conditions; use city employees and machinery to maintain and do ditches
Jason Bertrand did not attend
How do we provide jobs to keep young people from leaving?
Ortego: Slow process; make city more profitable for business (tax breaks); beautify city and enhance parks.
Thibodeaux: Unite city government as a team, work with parish and state to attract new business.
How would you provide more recreation opportunity in the ward?
Ortego: Have to spend some money on rec programs and parks; encourage more adult volunteers.
Thibodeaux: Find money to provide something other than at Sittig Road complex. How much in the budget and how much goes to each ward? Write grant applications for funding.

Alderman, Ward 3
What is your first priority after election?
James “Jr.” Bergeron: Roads. Would like to look at doing total overlay, but gas and sewer system have to be done also.
Marion “Nootsie” Sattler: Return all calls. All city officials work together as a team.
What is city’s No. 1 problem, particularly in Ward 3?
Bergeron: Roads, drainage, tax revenue.
Sattler: Drainage, speeding in neighborhoods.
What values shape how you will act as a council member?
Bergeron: Integrity, character, service, respect.
Sattler: Service, professionalism, character.

School Board
District 12
What’s No. 1 school problem?
Donna Baltakis: Poor graduation rate.
Albert Hayes, Jr.: School scores; we are a failing system.
Roland Miller: Poor student attendance; have to get kids to go to school; need truant officer in Eunice.
“LA’ Will Stevens: Truancy and low reading ability.
What would be your No. 1 priority?
Baltakis: Graduation rate, back to basics, facilities.
Hayes: Basics, new plumbing at Central Middle, nurse to student ratio, get rid of school activity fees.
Miller: Restore GED in Eunice.
Stevens: Keep kids in school.
Values that shape you as a board member:
Baltakis: Determination, realization that everyone can make a difference.
Hayes: Knows work and its value.
Miller: Serving and respecting people.
Stevens: Morality.

School Board
District 13
What is No. 1 problem in Dist. 13 schools?
Mary Ellen Donatto: Very fortunate in Dist. 13; schools would average a B grade.
Incumbent Harry Fruge was unable to attend.
First priority?
Donatto: Absentee rate.
Values that shape you as board member?
Donatto: What parents taught her, not outside parties.

District Judge
ES4 Division B
What is No. 1 law enforcement-prosecution problem?
Scherri Guidry: Disconnect between law enforcement and citizens.
Gerard Caswell: When someone commits a crime they need to be punished, but if the law doesn’t do the job right the persons has to walk, because it’s the same for all.
Values that would shape you as a judge?
Guidry: Justice same for all; respect, dignity for all.
Caswell: Know right from wrong and how to work.
First priority in office:
Guidry: Talk with other judges on 27th District bench to learn what does, doesn’t work, particularly with youthful offenders.
Caswell: Truancy, no excuse of parents to not send kids to school