LAPLACE — St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom said public records clearly indicate Daniel Becnel is lying in often-repeated claims that she is operating her administration with a previously unmatched number of department heads who also live in great numbers outside St. John the Baptist Parish.

In a memorandum to L’OBSERVATEUR Thursday afternoon, Robottom said “my statements are supported by public documents, while no proof was provided for Mr. Becnel’s false accusations. He is a multi-millionaire who is clearly throwing his money around spreading false information and misleading ads to disparage me and my staff. He’s obviously trying to use the newspapers to do the same. Please fact-check his information, as he has no problem lying.”

Following a discussion on public records, Robottom provided a listing on the parish’s administrative salaries from 2007-2015, as well as a listing of where parish department heads were domiciled from 2007-2015.

According to information provided by the Parish, there were 11 department heads in 2007 and two lived outside of the parish.

In 2010, when Robottom took office, four of the 11 department heads lived outside of the parish.

As of this year, with the addition of a communications director, three of the 12 department heads live outside the parish.

“I was elected in May of 2010 and clearly do not have more administrators than the previous presidents combined,” Robottom said. “I inherited four department heads who lived outside of the parish and currently have three. Of the three, two are engineers who manage the largest and most specialized departments in the parish during one of the busiest times in parish history.”

Robottom lists the heads of the Parish’s utilities, public works and purchasing/procurement departments as led by directors who live outside St. John.

When Becnel was asked Thursday if he was overstating the number of department heads Robottom employs, he said “absolutely not.”

“She has all kinds of people,” he said.

When hearing there were three department heads living outside of the parish, Becnel asked, “Why? How much do they make?”

Becnel previously said St. John Economic Development Director Torri Buckles made more than $100,000 a year.

Numbers released by the parish this week indicate the 2015 salary of the economic development director as $75,430.

The Parish’s other top salaries include: Parish President, $143,400; Chief Administrative Officer, $94,500; Chief Financial Officer $90,200; Planning and Zoning Director, $86,453; Public Works Director, $88,253; Utilities Director, $90,000; Public Safety Director, $80,719; Health & Human Services Director, $73,185; Human Resources Director, $72,000; Communications Director, $64,575; Purchasing and Procurement Director, $72,000; and Recreation Director, $70,000.

Becnel maintains that is more people and salary than needed.

“When Arnold Labat was president in 1984, he was the director of everything,” Becnel said. “He didn’t need any directors, he did it all by himself and he had a $3.8 million budget.”

Becnel previously stated the assistant director of public works has used parish labor and material to illegally build a garage and den at his house.

Robottom provided L’OBSERVATEUR two building permits — one from 2010 and the other from 2015 — that indicate Assistant Director Verdell Kindrick performed work to a location on Bailey Street in Edgard under proper permitting stipulations, building a detached garage and constructing an addition.

Becnel said his accusations stemmed from Parish employees who told him of illegal work.

“Have him take a lie detector test as to whether people were giving him kickbacks,” Becnel said. “I’m going to have a full investigation by the U.S. Attorney before I take office. There is so much corruption it’s not funny.”

Robottom was particularly dismayed by accusations that Economic Development Director Torri Buckles worked for only two months before taking 10 months of sick leave.

Robottom said public records clearly indicate Buckles was confirmed to her position in January of 2012 and has been with the parish for nearly four years.

“Once Ms. Buckles’ sick leave expired, she was placed on leave without pay,” Robottom said. “This policy is applied to all employees.”

Robottom also said a claim by Becnel that Buckles lives outside of the parish is untrue, providing L’OBSERVATEUR with records indicating Buckles has lived in the parish since 2005.

When asked to respond to the public records provided to the newspaper, Becnel again questioned Buckles’ sick time, adding the parish was left without service during her absence. He did not specifically address the town of residence question.

Becnel expressed frustration Thursday when asked to comment on much of what Robottom provided the same day, saying, “I have no interest in replying to Ms. Robottom because she is incompetent.”

Becnel and Robottom are locked in a heated race for St. John Parish President.

Becnel topped Robottom by 140 votes in last month’s primary election, setting the stage for a contested buildup to Nov. 21’s general election.

Early voting ends today.

— Staff writers Raquel Derganz Baker and Stephen Hemelt contributed to this report.