By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Roughly a month removed from inauguration ceremonies, newly elected officials in the River Parishes are likely continuing to work on the focus for the region over the next four years. Many residents of the three parishes, who likely voted for or against much of the new leadership, also have their own ideas of what needs to be addressed, and those residents have made their voices heard in L’Observateur’s weekly readers poll.

More than 50 percent of poll participants said combating criminal activity should be the top issue for the next four years.

High profile crimes are not the norm in the River Parishes, but recent activity has made headlines across the region over the past year.

The next closest vote getter was a focus on the economy and job development, which garnered nearly 30 percent of the vote. Many political leaders stressed the importance of a strong economic base during elections this past fall.

A complete breakdown is as follows:

• 29 percent of respondents said “The economy/job development.”

• 13 percent of respondents said “Drainage and infrastructure.”

• 2 percent of respondents said “Recreation.”

• 54 percent of respondents said “Crime.”

• 2 percent of respondents said “Other.”