Prejean appointed to Baldwin board

Philip Prejean was appointed to the Baldwin Board of Aldermen during a special meeting Thursday.
He will fill the seat of former Alderwoman Thor Frederick, who resigned last week, until a special election is held in October.

Prejean is a Houma native with over 38 years of experience in port management, serving as executive director of the Port of West St. Mary for 13 years. Prior to that, he served as executive secretary for the Terrebonne Port Commission for 25 years. Prejean has served on several boards and commissions, among them the Louisiana Coastal Commission, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program Advisory Committee, the Louisiana Coastal Commission and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Guidelines Advisory Committee. He is past president of the Ports Association of Louisiana, the Gulf Ports Association, the Millennium Port Authority, the Louisiana Intracoastal Seaway Association, the Terrebonne Sportsman League, the Houma Terrebonne Jaycees and is currently serving as president of the Glencoe Charter School Board.

Alderwoman Margaret Coleman opposed the appointment because she said when she asked to be appointed to fill a previous unexpired seat she was told by the former mayor and other aldermen that the person with the next highest number of votes in the previous election would have to be appointed.

Town Attorney Joseph Tabb informed Coleman he was not aware of any law that says the person with the next highest votes would get the position.

Alderman Herbert Bell also opposed the appointment stating that Donald Grimm should be appointed because he received the next highest number of votes in the previous election.

After hearing all concerns, Mayor Donna Lanceslin informed the board that the position had been advertised and the only person to show interest and submit a resume was Prejean.

The board voted on the appointment and was tied, with Coleman and Bell voting against it. Lanceslin voted in favor, breaking the tie.

Qualifying will be held Sept. 8-10 for the special election, which will coincide with this year’s general election on Oct. 24.

In other business, Mayor Lanceslin informed the board next month’s meeting will be moved to Wed., May 13 due to graduation at West St. Mary High School being held on the regular meeting night.