Driskell, Aucoin take oaths to succeed longtime public servants

Two successors to longtime figures in St. Mary Parish public life were sworn in Monday in ceremonies at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin.

Former state prosecutor and District Judge Gregory P. Aucoin took the oath as St. Mary’s clerk of court, succeeding Cliff Dressel.

Dressel had served in the office for 59 years, 40 of them as clerk, and was believed to be the longest serving clerk of court in the state. He announced last year that he wouldn’t seek another term.

Also Monday, Gary Driskell was sworn in as St. Mary Parish sheriff, succeeding Blaise Smith.

Smith, who served more than 40 years in law enforcement, died Feb. 23 after a long illness. Driskell, the chief deputy for Smith, had assumed many of Smith’s duties during that final year.

At Monday’s ceremony, Driskell thanked two men: Smith, who made Driskell his chief deputy after Smith won a special election to be sheriff in 2018, and Sheriff Huey Bourgeois, who hired Driskell, newly discharged from the Army, as a corrections deputy. Bourgeois, who served three terms as sheriff beginning in 1984, died Saturday at age 95 in New Iberia.

Driskell pledged to pursue his goals in community policing.

“I will continue every day to work harder and harder to find ways to make the office better,” Driskell said.

Driskell used the occasion to tell Sheriff’s Office employees that they’ll get a 5% raise beginning in their next checks.

“I’ve never worked with another sheriff who cared more about his people,” said John Kahl, who will serve as Driskell’s chief deputy.

Driskell won 77% of the vote in a four-way primary race to win the right to succeed Smith.

Aucoin, a former assistant district attorney and district court judge, qualified for his first term as clerk of court without opposition. His office has election day duties as well as responsibility for maintaining court real estate records.

Aucoin said in a press release that he is committed to carrying on the traditions of excellence and professionalism long established by Dressel and his chief deputy clerk, Jane C. Pilant.

Aucoin named Michelle A. Bourque of Franklin to serve as his chief deputy clerk. Bourque brings 31 years of experience to her new role.

The department heads will be Stephanie Derouen, Recording Department; Becky Haydel, Civil Department; and Stacey M. Colbert, Minute Department.