Surprise so far is that Guidry challenging Jones, with Penn factor still a mystery

By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher

LAPLACE – The last three elections for sheriff of St. John Parish turned into very heated campaigns between two men.

Sheriff Wayne Jones, who has been elected the last three terms in St. John, has faced increasing competition from local businessman Shannon Penn in all three of those victories. Each time Jones won, but Penn improved in each election to the point of losing by a 56.6 to 43.4 percent in the 2003 runoff.

So far this year, another very controversial, heated campaign is already underway with over four months still left until the October 20 primary.

But the difference is that so far, Penn is not officially the other man facing Jones.

Former St. John Corrections Officer Steve Guidry has announced that he is challenging Jones for the sheriff’s seat this year, with most political observers in town still wondering if Penn will get in the race or not.

Even though Penn continues to refuse comment to L’Observateur about whether he will run or not, he became a party to the race in January when signs begin going up around the parish calling for &#8220No Jones for Sheriff” in 2007. More signs have since been added with other messages, all targeting Jones and the need for a change, while not promoting any issues or other candidate.

While Penn again declined to comment about his involvement in those signs, L’Observateur contacted Lamar Advertising Company, which erected the signs. Lamar General Manager Lance Kern said that it was, indeed, Shannon Penn who was the contact person for the signs.

Meanwhile, Guidry has begun actively campaigning to win the race against Jones and said that he does not believe the St. John community is safe any longer.

&#8220The crimes that affect people are up and the incumbent is not doing the job it takes to provide a safe business corridor for us here,” Guidry said. &#8220While there are many outstanding police officers employed by the Sheriff’s office, crime keeps increasing in St. John Parish because of a record of constant failures at the top of the ladder.”

Guidry and Jones have differing views of whether crime has gone up or not. Guidry quotes FBI records which state that in three consecutive years, there has been a total increase in crime of 19 percent when considering the seven major categories of offenses against people and property.

Meanwhile, Jones said that even with the continuing population increase in St. John, his statistics show crime decreased in nine of the 11 years he has been in office.

&#8220I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished here, and I constantly get good feedback from the community about how safe it is in St. John,” Jones noted. &#8220And after all the campaign antics from some of these guys, people know what kind of job I do. I’m not the guy who talks and talks, but I’m the guy who is dedicated to this community and making it as safe as can be.”

Jones believes that his crime stats, which are reported to the state, are correct and show the strong job his force has done.

&#8220As for Guidry saying crime is up, it’s hard for me to address unfactual claims,” he said. &#8220He has no stats to back it up. We report to the state, and it shows we have had decreases in nine of 11 years. And that is really saying a lot when you note how the population has increased over the years here.”

Guidry brings an extensive law enforcement background to the race, with 27 years in the profession, including 17 years with the St. John force. However Guidry was not recommissioned after Jones won his last election, which Guidry called shocking.

&#8220I did not campaign for Shannon Penn, so I was as shocked as anyone when myself and six others were not recommissioned to stay with the St. John department,” Guidry said. &#8220As far as I know, I was not released for job performance.”

Guidry was a captain in the St. John Sheriff’s Office and was formerly responsible for overseeing the 600-bed correctional facility in one of his six previous law enforcement positions. He has worked for St. John, St. Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Terrebonne and LaFourche parish departments, and has worked in several divisions in law enforcement, including patrol, detective, training officer, communications officers and as a member of the Special Response Team. He is currently employed by Armor Holdings as a territory manager for law enforcement products, and is the former president of Riverland Skate Center in LaPlace, where he worked for 20 years.

&#8220Even though I was very surprised to not be kept on by the sheriff after the last election, this campaign right now is not personal,” he added. &#8220I just don’t think he is doing the job, and that affects us personally, and affects the business community.”

As for his reasons to release Guidry from his position following the last election, Jones said that it was a job performance related decision.

&#8220We let Guidry go since his job as warden was unsatisfactory. He had other personal business interests and had a lack of attention to his job,” Jones explained, &#8220not to mention a sexual harassment claim against him that we had to settle.”

Court records confirm that the Sheriff’s Office had to settle a sexual harassment claim in October, 1999 against Guidry and the department, for allegations made by two women. The Sheriff’s Office eventually settled the case by paying the women $1,500 each.

&#8220Guidry has only been in corrections and has bounced around between six different departments,” Jones said. &#8220He has no concept of what being sheriff would be about.”

While Guidry points to various areas of experience during his 27 years, Jones believes many improvements for the department under his watch are reason to see he should be re-elected.

&#8220We have increased salaries for our deputies to rank in the top 10 in the state for pay, we’ve sent six men to the FBI Training Academy, have a great senior program called ‘Cop of Tea,’ have a great inmate work program to keep the parish clean, one of the best DARE programs in the state, and constantly help civic and community organizations with their projects,” Jones said. &#8220We’ve not had any corruption or indictments since I’ve been in office and I think that shows what kind of department we have run here.”

Guidry said that if he is elected he will increase the number of police officers on the streets, target drug dealers more effectively, develop and implement more training for officers, create a crime intelligence division, establish a community advisory committee, and work with parents to develop programs to help young people. He also promised an advisory committee from the business community to assure safety for commercial areas in St. John.

Meanwhile, Jones believes a flood of requests for large campaign signs from people in St. John shows the way the community feels about him.

&#8220Even my annual golf tournament just raised over $100,000 for my campaign. That’s the most we ever raised, and I think it shows a commitment to support me,” he added. &#8220There is no doubt I will be re-elected. People are not buying what these other guys are selling.”

As for the tone of the campaign, considering the start so far, Jones expects more of the same.

&#8220This is starting out to be a nasty campaign, but if anyone runs a campaign that way, you can figure they will run their administration that way. I expect more of the same, but I am only going to respond to facts in this campaign,” he said.

Guidry said that he has no connection to the current campaign signs against Jones that have been seen in the parish.