Parish President candidates meet voters at the Teche

Candidates for St. Mary Parish President Gary Duhon and David Hanagriff answered questions during a forum Thursday at the Teche Theater in Franklin.
The forum was sponsored by the City of Franklin and St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.
Duhon and Hanagriff were allowed opening and closing statements and were asked four questions by moderator Judith Allain.
First up, Allain asked how the parish jail and golf course could be made more profitable.
“The responsibility of the parish president is to work with the sheriff’s department” on the jail, Duhon said. He said the parish owns and maintains the jail, and the sheriff operates the facility. “We will find solutions.”
Duhon said the operations of Atchafalaya Golf Course in Patterson must be scrutinized. “We own it, we can’t walk away from it.” He said its benefits, despite the losses, include sales taxes, jobs and a “nice golf course.”
He said he is not opposed to studying private management.
Hanagriff said the jail is not designed to make a profit, and parish government is responsible for paying for the jail and its expenses, while the sheriff’s department runs and operates the jail. “If elected one of the first meetings I will have will be with the sheriff to discuss these issues,” Hanagriff said.
Noting that the golf course has been a “hot topic” for some time, with losses of $200,000 or more each year, Hanagriff said the facility nonetheless generates an economic impact for the parish: a study indicates $5 million a year’s worth.
Sales taxes along amounted to $187,000 last year due to the golf course, but that’s not enough, Hanagriff said. “We’re going to get proposals and see if a management team will work,” he said. “We turned the restaurant over to a private entity and the following year it turned a profit.”
Asked if Louisiana’s litter problem is important to him, Hanagriff said, “When you’re trying to attract new businesses and individuals to the parish first impressions are very important.”
He pointed to the Keep St. Mary Beautiful program that unites businesses and government against litter.
Garbage trucks drop a lot of litter on their routes, Hanagriff said, and the parish has entered an agreement with a new collection service that will mean new trucks and less loss of trash.
The parish cuts grass on US 90 and also picks up trash, he said. “We’ve come a long way, but with commitment from the parish council and parish government we’ll continue to keep St. Mary Parish beautiful,” he said.
Duhon said litter control is important. “We need to focus on Keep St. Mary Beautiful with enforcement, education and cleanup,” he said.
Citizens can help by cleaning out truck beds and not throwing trash out of vehicles and boats. He said he would work with the school system for anti-littering education.
He said cleanup costs money but the effects are damaging to tourism and the environment. Duhon pledged that the Keep St. Mary Beautiful campaign will continue and expand.
Allain asked what improvements the candidates have in mind.
Duhon listed job creation, additional housing, flood control and infrastructure.
Hanagriff listed eliminating duplication of services, improve the building permitting process, improving the economic development department, diversification of the economy and housing.
The last question was regarding the candidates’ three characteristics that will aid them as parish president.
Hanagriff said his business experience will allow him to run parish government “in a business-like manner.” He said problem-solving abilities are also an asset. He cited honesty and integrity, and “you’re going to know where I stand on all issues.”
Duhon said he will be accessible to all citizens with an open door policy. He said his leadership abilities and ability to cooperate with the council and other organizations is an asset. Duhon said he is independent and fair with all citizens.