LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 30, 1999

HAHNVILLE – Chris Tregre plans a merry Christmas. It’s the day after his44th birthday, and he’s looking forward to much more time with his family. In a matter of weeks, he will also become a former St. Charlesparish president.

After eight years as District One parish councilman and eight years as parish president, Tregre is awaiting having his weekends free and a full night’s sleep.

Though he says he’ll miss the daily challenge of public office and has no concrete plans to run again for any office, he added, “If I get a job that I enjoy as much as this one, that’ll be great.”At the age of 27, Tregre, a lifelong resident of the parish, decided to run for parish councilman.

“It was something I felt I would like to do,” he said. “I’ve always had aninterest in government, and I have a keen love for this parish.”He took with him into public office a strong sense of civic responsibility, noting, “Talking about it is one thing, but can we do something about it?” Tregre served eight years as a parish councilman, earning a tough, no- nonsense reputation as a determined, “white-hat” reformer. Thereputation contributed to his upset win for the parish president’s seat in 1991 over incumbent Albert Laque. Despite a 1995 attempt by Laque tounseat him, Tregre served eight years as parish president. He will besucceeded in January by Laque.

Tregre pointed with pride to $22 million in drainage improvements that have occurred during his administration, including additional pumps at existing stations, construction of several new stations, widened canals and improved levees, all without tax increases or increasing the bond indebtedness.

His career as parish president was marked with heady triumphs and hard disappointments. Among those triumphs was blocking Crown Casinoriverboat from locating in the parish, which split the parish almost down the middle on the issue, and the success in keeping millions of dollars in ad valorum tax revenue from Waterford 3 nuclear power plant in St.

Charles Parish despite years of argument by state Sen. John Hainkle tospread it statewide.

“That was one of the most crucial fights I had the pleasure of winning,” Tregre said, smiling.

Likely the biggest disappointment was his loss on the West Bank hurricane protection levee project. For most of his tenure as parish president hefought for a levee alignment where the parish already owned the right of way through donations by landowners, to be built by the Lafourche Basin Levee District.

Instead, after several years of inaction by the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, the Parish Council voted to pursue another alignment more in line to the Corps’ liking.

“What was an $8 million levee will turn into a $16 million levee,” Tregre cautioned. “Before, we had the right of way for free and 800 acres ofretention for conservation easement.”Now, he added, the expense of expropriation will delay and drive up the cost. If challenged in court, he continued, it will be hard to explain howthat land is necessary when a free right of way was available.

Tregre has mixed feelings about the necessity of passing a 5-mill tax to finance $41 million in wastewater treatment system improvements. Whilehe was successful in arguing the need for the tax, he was disappointed in the necessity of the EPA-mandated improvements.

His other accomplishments while in office include continued improvements to the parish’s Department of Parks and Recreation (which serves 5,000 children), including more property for and development of more parks. He also oversaw millions of dollars in parish road overlaysand repairs, worked with Sheriff Greg Champagne toward the new jail project, expanded land holdings around the courthouse for future expansion, secured property adjoining the West Regional Library and for the new St. Rose library and helped provide funding for improved 9-1-1communications.

And, economic development of non-industrial companies in the parish “have never been higher,” Tregre observed.

His finance department also earned three consecutive Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting, unrivaled in Louisiana.

“My directors have all done a terrific job, and they’re second to none that this parish has ever had,” he said.

Tregre wrapped up his comments in saying, “People need to become part of their government,” and urged greater voter participation. “It only countsif you use it,” he added.

At the still-youthful age of 44, Tregre said of his impending so-called retirement, “It’s going to be good.” He refused to rule out any future runfor public office.

He earned the 1995 Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Planning Association for his leadership in defending zoning rights in the Crown Casino battle and also the Louisiana Preservation Alliance award for his efforts to preserve the historical integrity of the River Road. Heserved on the Mississippi River Road Commission and the South Central Planning and Development Commission.

Tregre admitted his desire to spend more time with his wife, Pati, and their children, Rebecca, Michael and Brandi, played a part in not running for office in this past election. He added as to his immediate employmentplans that, despite rumors, he hasn’t made any hard commitments yet.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done here,” Tregre said. “St. Charles Parish isdefinitely on the map.”

Return To News Stories