This is part three in a series of stories devoted to the special election for St. John Parish President scheduled for March 27. L’Observateur asked each candidate a series of questions on various parish issues. Today we will hear from candidates Buddy Boe, Richard “Dale” Wolfe and newly declared candidate Perry Bailey, who joined the race Friday.

What is your motivation behind running for this office?

Buddy Boe: I have had the honor of serving as acting chief administrative officer for some time now and the chance to serve the citizens of St. John as their parish president would be an exciting and fulfilling challenge. It will take energy, drive and the right experience to ensure we continue moving forward on a path to prosperity.

Richard “Dale” Wolfe: My motivation for running for St. John the Baptist Parish President is to place St. John in the forefront of industry, business and economic stability. I have been a public servant for the people of St. John Parish for the past 34 years, and I feel now is the time for me to take the parish to the next level.

Perry Bailey: My motivation is the love and passion for serving the public with good, honest and hardworking leadership while protecting their investment in St. John Parish without compromising the integrity of anyone.

Regaining the public’s trust in government will be a pivotal part of the next parish president’s job. What will you do in the early days and weeks to regain some of that trust?

Boe: In recent weeks, events have transpired that shook the foundations of trust between the people of St John and their government. “Transparency” is such a cliché word. Trust can only be gained by delivering on promises, ending the out-dated practices that have plagued our solutions, and bringing the public into the process of running their government. This can be done through town halls, open budget processes and breaking down barriers for public participation. When the people are included, the government becomes theirs and earns their trust.

Wolfe: I reiterate that I have served St. John for the past 34 years and that alone is a show from the public of the trust that they have in me to allow me to serve them for that length of time. But also, along with the team I am assembling that will consist of people with the highest qualifications, integrity, experience and noble character, we will again regain the public trust that may have been lost.

Bailey: A. Implement an open door policy (to ensure St. John citizens’ thoughts and ideas will always be heard).

B. Analyze all parish projects — validate and prioritize.

C. Set the tone to ensure the elimination of wasteful spending.

D. Call for a summit with all parish elected officials.

Other than government trust from the people, what is the most pressing issue facing the parish at this moment, and what will you do to correct it?

Boe: The most pressing issue at this moment is keeping the talent and future of St. John in St. John. For years, the young people of our parish have moved out for their education and have never come back home. We must begin, today, creating the community where a young family can build a life. Our future begins NOW. We must give the youth of our parish a reason to believe they have a prosperous future by staying in St. John.

Wolfe: Other than public trust, the most pressing issues that are facing the parish are jobs and the economy, which both have a direct correlation to each other. If more industry and businesses are brought to the parish, it will greatly improve the lives of the people of the parish. When you have big industry that are cashing in on big tax breaks and incentives given to them to operate in the parish, and they are constantly hiring people that reside outside of St. John, that does not help the people of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Bailey: Pressing issues vary and are common across the entire parish. (They include:) A. quality water; B. drainage; C. traffic congestion; D. levee protection; and E. slow to no economic development. I am committed to working with the council and all local, state and Washington delegations to secure the dollars needed to resolve these problems.

The previous administration set a multitude of projects in motion thanks to a series of bond propositions. Are you willing to stay the course, or do you plan to look into any changes in any of these initiatives?

Boe: The $100 million capital projects program that is currently in progress is the largest in the parish’s history, and it is vital that these projects not be slowed or disrupted in their execution. I will ensure that these projects are completed on time and on budget. The projects contained in the capital projects program are delivering needed services and upgrades to the parish facilities and infrastructure. They include: transportation – $12.6 million, water system – $19 million, sewerage system – $20.4 million, drainage system – $15.1 million, recreation – $7.1 million, coastal restoration – $9.5 million, facilities – $14.2 million and health and human services – $2 million. St. John cannot afford for these projects to be delayed by 9 to 12 months with the changing of administrations. I currently oversee the capital projects program and will ensure its timely execution and completion.

Wolfe: When the people of St. John approve bond issues, we as elected officials are obligated to do what is right with those bonds. We have to start by using qualified contractors and businesses from St. John the Baptist Parish area first. Along with my most qualified staff we will revisit all aspects of the parish government and make sure it works for the people of St. John Parish first and foremost.

Bailey: The voters have spoken last year with the millage renewal; however, all projects will be evaluated on their merits and how they enhance the growth and quality of life for the citizens of St. John Parish.

How important is it to maintain regional cohesion between the three River Parishes (St. John, St. James, St. Charles)?

Boe: St John does not exist in a bubble, and we are stronger when we partner with our regional neighbors. Together, the River Parishes offer a vast pool of talented employees, large tracts of vacant land, a unique quality of life and a welcoming attitude toward the business community.  Working with the Port of South Louisiana, the River Region Chamber of Commerce, Greater New Orleans Inc. and the River Region Economic Development Initiative, we can attract new and growing industries to the River Parishes to ensure continued job growth. The partners in the River Region know that we all benefit from the economic growth in one parish and that fighting amongst each other only hurts the region as a whole.

This “common benefit” approach has allowed the River Region to attract businesses where other regions could not.

Wolfe: It is very important to keep regional cohesion between the three River Parishes. We all have very common problems and issues that as a group we come together to address and solve.  We also share many programs and partnerships with our neighboring friends and allies. We have a Tri-Parish Conference where all three parishes work together with the parish presidents, our legislators and our departments of Health and Human Services on programs that help and aid the people in all three parishes. We also have a partnership with all three parishes port commissioners to run our regional port that is located in St. John and a cooperative agreement with our neighboring parishes to manage the airport that also is located in St. John, but most importantly the economic impact that is spurred through different projects and growth of the three parishes because of the projects is insurmountable.

Bailey: Very important. While on the council we three parishes came together and created the River Region Caucus. Those three parishes coming together with combined population give us strength in numbers when it comes to Baton Rouge and Washington so that our voices would be heard. It makes for good government relationship.

How well has St. John Parish weathered the struggling national economy? What are some of your plans to keep the parish economically sound? 

Boe: St. John, while it has suffered with the national economy, was able to avoid the major economic collapse experienced around the country due to continued investment in the River Region as a whole. The expansion project at Marathon’s Garyville facility provided a much-needed boost to the local economy and served as a buffer against the economic downturn. St. John government was able to budget accordingly and as a result was able to present a tight but balanced 2010 budget without cutting services. In fact, due to the efforts of our grant department and department heads, services in 2010 will be increased with the $12 million in grants the parish received and the $29.5 million bond issue passed by the voters in April 2009. This will allow St. John to weather the struggling economy and continue to deliver and improve services to the residents of St. John.

Wolfe: Of course we cannot say that the state of the national economy has not hampered some of the things in St. John Parish, but it will be up to my administration to keep St. John’s money in St. John. 

We will have to bring more industry, clean industry to our parish. We will have to help struggling small businesses maintain to keep them here, and that will in turn create jobs for the people of St. John. 

Bailey: Depending on whom you ask, the problems are the same in St. John Parish as they are nationally. I will emphasize practices that ensure professional administrative and solid financial results (by doing the following:) A. evaluate current budget; B. monitoring all spending; C. review priorities of current projects; D. prioritize projects as appropriate; E. seek opportunity for economic development; and F. seek opportunity for savings.