Morgan City Council candidates make their case at forum
Morgan City Council candidates had their chance Sept. 23 to outline their solutions from some of the city’s needs: housing, new business, recreational opportunities and keeping young people from leaving the area.
The candidates for three competitive council races appeared at a St. Mary Chamber forum at Morgan City Auditorium.
The District 2 candidates are incumbent Bonnie Leonard and former parish Chief Administrative Office Jean Paul Bourg. We reported on their portion of the forum in the Sept. 27 edition. The story is available on StMaryNow.com and our Facebook page.
In District 3, incumbent the Rev. Ron Bias is running against Marcelle B. Hoskins and Julia “Blaze” Smith. And in District 5, incumbent Lou Tamporello is being challenged by Eriq Blanchard.
The primary will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, the presidential election day. If no District 3 candidate gets a clear majority in the primary, the runoff would be Dec. 7.
Early voting runs Oct. 18-29, excluding the two Sundays in that period. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7 in person, or Oct. 15 if you use the GeauxVote online system.
Incumbent City Council members Tim Hymel in District 1 and Steve Domangue in District 4 qualified for re-election without opposition.
District 3
Bias is nearing the end of his fifth four-year council term. He is retired from working in the oil and gas industry and is active in the 100 Black Men organization.
“I have no problem working with my constituents and no problem working with my fellow council members,” Bias said.
When controversies arise, “conflict resolution would be No. 1,” Bias said. “Conversation would be No. 2.”
And conversation is one key to making Morgan City business-friendly, he said.
“You’ve got to check on the business people,” he said. “You’ve got to listen to them. You’ve to got to hear what they’ve got to say.”
Recreational opportunities would also be a plus, but those may require taxes, he said.
Asked about the area’s loss in population, Bias said, “Let’s stop talking about it and do something about it. …
“I’ve been on the council since 2005,” Bias said. “I think my work speaks for itself.”
Hoskins is a former Morgan City employee who has served on the planning and zoning board.
Asked about the top issues for the city, Hoskins said the needs are better pumps for flood control, more jobs and housing, and recreational opportunities for young people and families.
Good schools are an issue facing Morgan City, she said. She pointed to South Louisiana’s ability to offer job training as an asset.
Otherwise, communication is important in developing new businesses.
“You have to network together for a better community,” Hoskins said. “Communication is key. Working together … while collaborating on viewpoints.”
To stop population loss, the city needs more opportunities for good-paying jobs, possibly some form of public transportation and embracing the local culture.
Johnson has served on the local tourism board.
“Morgan City is a special place,” Johnson said, “and I’m passionate about the opportunity to collaborate to create something new and inspiring.”
The biggest issues facing the city are aging infrastructure, including drainage and roads, Johnson said. The city needs a phased improvement plan.
The city should also focus on attracting jobs in manufacturing and health care, she said.
Morgan City could support local business by simplifying licensing. She also believes promoting tourism would help.
To stop the decline in population, Johnson said, Morgan City needs affordable housing and recreational opportunities.
She gave the recently introduced city budget good marks for an anticipated increase in revenue. And the city has been successful in obtaining grants, including $10 million for an upgrade of the city’s water plant.
“I’m dedicated to working for the betterment of Morgan City,” Johnson said.
District 5
Blanchard is a former police officer now working in real estate. He has also served on the city recreation board.
His presentation centered on a need to bring a new generation into city leadership and the city’s population loss.
“My biggest fear as a parent is that my kids all grow up and say, ‘Dad, there’s nothing here in Morgan City.’ … That’s something that to me is avoidable.”
On the recreation front, the city should be upgrading its playgrounds constantly, Blanchard said. He also pushed for continued development of Lake End Park, the recent target of a $1.8 million grant.
Blanchard said his work as a police officer taught him to communicate with people from all walks of life and in extreme circumstances.
Asked about support for local businesses, Blanchard urged businesses to take advantage of $10,000 grants available for storefront facelifts. That kind of improvement can make other businesses want to come here, Blanchard said.
He promised to see that District 5 gets its share of spending for infrastructure improvements.
He’d be a good representative, he said, “being a younger, newer generation, to be able to step up and take the reins and going into a leadership position, starting now. …”
Tamporello, another five-term councilman, pointed to a wide range of community involvement including the old Teche Regional board, the local Rotary, St. Mary Excel, the former St. Mary Industrial Group and the local Tiger boosters.
“Morgan City has many things to offer,” Tamporello said. “Waterways, tourism, the airport, the rail system, recreation, highways and a safe harbor. Sometimes we take all this for granted.”
What the city needs, Tamporello said, are lower insurance rates, affordable housing and improvements in recreation. And the Port of Morgan City needs a 20-foot channel, he said.
He called a 3/10ths-cent sales tax essential for keeping roads in good condition and said it’s important to make sure drainage pumps are working and staffed.
The key to community involvement is the variety of boards and commissions, including the recreation board and planning and zoning.
“That’s where you get people involved,” Tamporello said. “You get them on these committees. You listen to their ideas and you work with them.
He said he’ll work with parish Economic Development Director Evan Boudreaux to bring new business here. He’d like to see a return of fishing tournaments as a draw to the area, and has worked with St. Mary Excel to bring the Louisiana National Estuarine Research Reserve to St. Mary.
“The biggest thing we have to do is promote our area and support our owns businesses here,” Tamporello said.