Washington announces for Patterson chief of police

Note: The Daily Review will accept candidate announcements until Oct. 1. Announcements may be up to 600 words and include a photograph of the candidate. Announcements may be emailed to news@daily-review.com or delivered to the newspaper office at 1014 Front St., Morgan City. Candidates are limited to one free announcement. Announcements are subject to editing.
An announcement from Pamela Washington follows.
Pamela Washington, commonly referred to as “Pam” by most family, friends and colleagues, is a candidate for chief of police in Patterson.
Washington is a long-time resident of Patterson and was married to the late Alvin Junius Washington. She has one daughter, Angela Washington Randall, who is married to Eric Randall Jr. The loves of her life are her two grandchildren, Skylar Paige Randall and Eric Randall III.
Washington graduated from Hattie A. Watts High School and earned an accounting degree from Young Memorial Technical College. She attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. She is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson where she has served as an adult religion instructor.
Washington has been employed with the City of Patterson since 1970. Her position is appointed by the mayor. Over her career, each of the mayors maintained her appointment, now spanning more than 45 years.
Washington has served in many different capacities: assistant city clerk, city clerk, billing clerk, accounting support, and budget and fiscal management of the city’s affiliate entities. Collectively, her responsibilities included management and oversight of the operating and budgetary procedures for the City Hall, Police, Gas, Water, Streets and Drainage, Sanitation and Sewer departments under the jurisdiction of the City of Patterson.
In 1986, Washington earned the official appointment of tax collector by the mayor and council of Patterson.
In 1990, she attained the position of master municipal clerk by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Association, a distinguished honor that has not been achieved by any other employee of the city. Further, only nine clerks nationally had achieved this honor at that time.
Washington is an affiliate of the State of Louisiana’s Municipal Clerks Association, has served on the Board of Trustees, and was nominated and elected to serve on the Executive Board of the Directors during her tenure with this organization. While serving on the executive board, she also assumed the positions of public relations officer, secretary, treasurer, vice president, and in 2005 was elected as president of the Louisiana Municipal Clerk’s Association.
In an effort to seek more proactive ways to help the community of Patterson, Washington sought and administered the first Louisiana Highway Safety Commission grant, a competitive grant which focused on increased highway safety awareness. Some of the functions of this grant include the “click it or ticket” campaign and drunk-driving awareness education. Having received this grant on behalf of the city allowed for additional financial support during the holidays and other high traffic times on the road.
Washington has attended numerous workshops as it relates to leadership enhancement skills, while being involved in the operations and training opportunities around law enforcement. Washington has attended numerous seminars on law enforcement sponsored by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Department as well as the police department in Boston, Massachusetts.
Through seminars, Washington has acquired skills on implementing neighborhood watch programs, understanding the dynamics of inner city crime, and global law enforcement strategies.
During past hurricane seasons, she assisted one of the former mayors who held the position of emergency preparedness director for St. Mary Parish. Washington helped facilitate meetings for other local mayors and officials, first responders, local school boards, hospital staff, and surrounding law enforcement agencies during the natural disaster.
Your support and your vote will help us to bring about the necessary change to move Patterson to the next level. I humbly ask that you would consider me, No. 90 on your ballot, as your next City of Patterson chief of police.
For more comprehensive information, visit my campaign website at www.votepamwashingtonforchief.com.
Information for the Nov. 4, Dec. 6 elections
The qualifying period was Aug. 20, 21 and 22.
Early voting is Oct. 21-28 (except Sunday) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Nov. 4 primary election.
Early voting for the Dec. 6 general election is Nov. 22-29 (except Sunday) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Elections on the St. Mary Parish ballot include U.S. senator, U.S. representative, court of appeal judge, district judges, district attorney, school board member, justice of the peace, constables; Morgan City city court judge, Morgan City city court marshal; Patterson mayor, Patterson chief of police, Patterson council; Berwick mayor, Berwick council; Franklin city court judge, Franklin city court marshal; and Baldwin mayor, Baldwin chief of police and Baldwin aldermen.