Forty submit résumés for charter commish; meet the candidates
With the noon Tuesday deadline having come and gone, the Lafayette City-Parish Council has 40 résumés submitted by Lafayette residents seeking a seat on the nine-member charter commission — 28 résumés from the city residents, 12 from residents living in unincorporated Lafayette Parish. According to CPC Clerk Norma Dugas, the next step is to verify the eligibility of the applicants.
The ordinance that created the commission stipulates that five members must be city of Lafayette residents, four must live in unincorporated Lafayette Parish and two commission members — one city, one unincorporated — must be members of a minority race. The council is expected to begin interviewing applicants in the next couple of weeks. The CPC will vote in unison on seven of the nine appointments — four city residents and three residents from the parish. City-Parish President Joey Durel will appoint the remaining two members — one city, one parish.
Some of the applicants’ names are familiar in Lafayette’s political and business circles; others are not. While eight minorities from the city submitted résumés, only one minority from the unincorporated parish applied. CPC Chairman Jay Castille says if that applicant doesn’t qualify — applicants must be registered voters, and cannot be employed by or have a contractual relationship with Lafayette Consolidated Government — the council will reissue a call for résumés.
Overall, Castille says he’s pleased with the names he’s seen so far. “The names seem to be pretty good,” he says. “I see a lot of good people in there, some knowledgeable people, some government knowledge. I think it’s going to be a good group.”
Following is a list of applicants who submitted résumés, along with their race/gender, district of residence and city or parish classification:
... written by Northsidian Shotgun , May 18, 2010 - 09:38 pm
Who dug Abell up.... Jesus, how many government retirements must he need ? There are quite a few "career politicians on the list, listen-up, every automobile dealer in the area could use a recognizable face to pitch their cars to the public, " get an honest legit job ! Why is the next stepping stone upward from a Television and Radio Announcer, always "POLITICS ?
... written by I Noticed , May 18, 2010 - 11:28 pm
I noticed that the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has many members on the list. I think this is great, since they always know what is best for us.
... written by Drone Attack , May 19, 2010 - 01:11 am
What a wonderful list of hasbeens and wantabes. No matter, just make certain Mike Stagg does not get on; he's as crazy as Andy Hebert.
... written by Morrow , May 19, 2010 - 02:06 am
I am glad to see Mr. Abell VOLUNTEERING for this UNPAID, uncredited, unappreciated position. Didn't he sit on the original commission??? He should be able to serve intelligently and give perspective as to the intentions of those who originally served. I AM, FOR THE MOST PART, IMPRESSED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE APPLIED TO SERVE !!! Now, I just hope councilmen haven't arranged for applicants who will just be their "voice" on this commission. I hope those who wish to serve, want to do so independently and with integrity. I'm also glad to see Ernie Alexander applying to serve. Since he served on the original council, he too can offer certain insight. I recognize many names of honest, hard working people that can be counted on to serve with integrity.
... written by yesidoknow , May 19, 2010 - 03:40 am
Isn't one of the requirements for candidacy that you not do business with LCG. How many of these folks in some way, shape or form do business with LCG? Or does the entity they work for do business with LCG?
... written by Holeinthedonut8 , May 19, 2010 - 01:24 pm
I can find 9 good people on this list and have a couple left over. I still don't have much faith in the potential to really fix our f'd up system. We can break it differently but I doubt we'll really get it working efficiently, this is a thankless public service.
... written by andymhebert , May 19, 2010 - 02:29 pm
The legal taxing jurisdictions of the Lafayette “Con” Government is composed of the geographical areas of the City of Lafayette Corporate Limits and the Unincorporated property in the Parish only, why would anyone allow someone who is not a member (i.e. registered voter) of both of these jurisdictions write or modify their constitutional charter?
Why would anyone allow someone who is not a member of both legal taxing jurisdictions select their “constitutional” delegation?
... written by clue , May 19, 2010 - 08:22 pm
"No matter, just make certain Mike Stagg does not get on; he's as crazy as Andy Hebert."
I know Andy Hebert is viewed as out there by many, but the guy is not nearly as off the reservation as Mike Stagg. Stagg is a bomb-throwing kook.
... written by Northsidian Gun , May 19, 2010 - 10:00 pm
THE REASON THERE ARE SO MANY CCC. MEMBERS, is because all their life, they've been preping for their calling, from those days in, The Junior Police League, Freshman Class President, Soph.Class President, Junior Class President, and Senior Class President, and now a real Payday, and from the taxpayers at that, tomorrow "THE PRESIDENCY-----OF THE PARISH. HEE-HEE,voted most likely to succeed in School, UH,HUH, AW Shucks !
... written by Lou Rom on KVOL , May 20, 2010 - 12:58 am
No offense to my friends in government, and there are many, but if you worked for the government or were under contract with the government in the last five years, you should not be on the commission, kind of like that federal law that prohibits (allegedly) gov employees from flipping and becoming lobbyists asap.
... written by Drone Attack , May 20, 2010 - 02:35 am
written by Northsidian Shotgun "Who dug Abell up"
I thought the same thing, checked the obits, he is not listed, but he must be on life support.
... written by andymhebert , May 20, 2010 - 10:51 am
If the applicants are registered voters of the City of Lafayette, then they are also a registered voter of the Parish of Lafayette. Therefore they will represent both the City and the Parishes interest.
So the Parish is represented by all 9 appointments and the City is represented by only 5.
Isn’t this discrimination against the City of Lafayette? Isn’t this a continued gerrymandering of City of Lafayette representation?
... written by ragin_cajun , May 20, 2010 - 02:48 pm
andymhebert --
That is just completely irrational--not logical at all. It is fallacious for several reasons. Your demonstrated inability to think reasonably should disqualify YOU from serving on the commission :)
If all A's are B's, it does not follow that all B's are A's. If city and parish interests diverge, then would not a parish resident's interests be different from a city AND parish resident's interests? Obviously so, or there wouldn't be any problem with consolidated government, no city vs. parish voting blocks on the council, and no charter commission.
I think that the events that have led up to the lates deconsolidation push, and the arguments I have seen in favor of deconsolidation, indicate a true dichotomy between city and parish...don't you? If that dichotomy does exist, and we assume that commissioners will act in their self interest as defined by their address (which is a faulty assumption), then does it not stand to reason that a parish resident would have different interests than a city resident? I think it does stand.
So that would mean that the appointments are stacked in favor of the city and against the parish.
... written by andymhebert , May 24, 2010 - 04:59 pm
Are you talking about the "non-Con" Cities or the "Conned" City? Being a registered City of Lafayette Voter/Taxpayer and a registered Parish of Lafayette Voter/Taxpayer, would have the advantage of seeing the separate geographical taxing districts and see the distinct needs of each.
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Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.
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There are quite a few "career politicians on the list, listen-up, every automobile dealer in the area could use a recognizable face to pitch their cars to the public, " get an honest legit job !
Why is the next stepping stone upward from a Television and Radio Announcer, always "POLITICS ?