Report: Sheriff won't seek re-election

Sheriff Blaise Smith, who has been battling an undisclosed illness since March, says he will not run for re-election when his term expires next year, according to a post on his campaign Facebook page.

After a career of more than 40 years in law enforcement, Smith was elected sheriff in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Mark Hebert, who resigned for personal reasons. Smith finished behind Scott Anslum, Hebert's top deputy, in the 2018 primary. But in the runoff, Smith beat Anslum 52%-48%.

Running for a full term in his own right in 2019, Smith was elected with 55% of the primary vote.

Smith had resigned from the Sheriff's Office in 1994 as a chief inspector and also served as chief of the Chitimacha Tribal Police Department.

On March 25, a Sheriff's Office statement said Smith was "suffering from an as-yet-undetermined illness and is seeking in-patient medical evaluation and treatment at a medical facility at the present time. ..

"The Administrative staff is in contact with Sheriff Smith and his family on a regular basis to stay up to date with his status and to advise and consult with the Sheriff on office matters."

From the post on his campaign Facebook page:

"It is with a heavy heart that I must formally announce that I will not seek re-election for another term as your Sheriff. This decision was not an easy one, but necessary for me to focus on my current health issues.
.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of the parish as your elected Sheriff. I hope that when I leave the office, I will have left a lasting mark on the department and its people, signifying my strong beliefs in community service, communication, and teamwork. Working with such an amazing group of people is an honor, and I owe much of my success to them.
.
"Moving forward, I know the department is in excellent and capable hands. Should I be absent for any health-related issues, Chief Gary Driskell has and will continue to run all day-to-day activities for the department. Chief Driskell has over thirty years in law enforcement and has proven himself highly capable to continue leading the department with compassion and integrity, as he has done so for the last several months.
.
"Through my fifty years in law enforcement, I have made memories and friendships that will never tarnish. I pray that everyone is blessed to have such a career as mine."
.