LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 27, 1999

HAHNVILLE – Former Parish President Albert D. Laque Sr. led the race for anew term Saturday and faces the challenge of Rusty Rebowe in the Nov. 20runoff election.

The local ballot will also include runoffs councilman at large Division B, and council posts in Districts 1 and 5.

Parish President Albert D. Laque Sr. ended the primary in the lead, headed into the Nov. 20runoff for St. Charles Parish President with Russell “Rusty” Rebowe, anative and resident of Norco.

Laque, 65, a native and resident of Boutte, served as parish administrator until 1976, unsuccessfully ran for parish president in 1983, then served in the post from 1988 to 1992.

With the slogan “Experience Counts,” Laque took a lead, even over the popular Rebowe, 43, a former New Orleans Saint, who built the parish’s recreation and parks department from the ground up before launching his first try at the presidency.

Laque capped the night with 7,890 votes, edging Rebowe’s 7,514 votes, a difference of 376 votes.

Laque commented, “It’s going to work out all right. It will make thevictory that much sweeter.”Rebowe did win in 22 of the parish’s 44 precincts, including a sweep of District 3 and most of District 6. He also had the edge in the absenteeballots.

“I feel pretty good about the vote,” Rebowe commented afterward. “Myvolunteer base has been tremendous. I’m happy where I am right now, andI’m going to continue my positive campaign.”Also in the race, Donald J. Hogan Sr., 58, a native and resident of DesAllemands, who served as Councilman at Large for Division B from 1980 to 1988, generated 1,510 votes in his third try for the position. ArchieMollere, 77, a native and resident of Luling, garnered 234 votes in his first try at the job.

Assessor Clyde A. “Rock” Gisclair, 65, a native and resident of Luling, won re-election to his eighth consecutive term as St. Charles Parish Assessor,handily defeating Earl Clements, 59, a resident of Luling.

Gisclair racked up 10,903 votes to Clement’s 4,898. “I’m very pleased andvery happy,” Gisclair commented.

Clerk of Court Charles Oubre Jr., 69, a native and resident of Hahnville, handily won hisfifth consecutive term as St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court. He defeatedchallenger Hershel Langley, 63, a native of Norco and resident of Luling.

Oubre rolled up 13,695 votes to Langley’s 2,625, winning in every precinct and the biggest local vote-getter in the parish.

“You win by four or 400, it still feels good,” Oubre said.

Council at Large A Ganesier “Ram” Ramchandran, 58, a Destrehan resident for 17 years and native of India, earned re-election to his second consecutive term, defeating Curtis Johnson Sr., 66, a native and resident of St. Rose whoserved 1977-1980 as a St. Charles Parish Police Juror and since 1988 asDistrict 5 Parish Councilman.

Ramchandran earned 9,045 to Johnson’s 6,724 votes, despite having been sidelined in the last few weeks of the campaign due to quadruple heart bypass surgery on Oct. 4. He was released from the hospital on Oct. 10 andhas been recuperating at home, expecting to return to the council meetings in November.

“Hopefully, we will do more of what the people want us to do,” Ramchandran said, adding he will continue to push for drainage concerns and “make the citizens a little more comfortable.”Council at Large B Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux Jr., 39, a native and resident of Luling, tookthe lead for the at-large race, heading toward the Nov. 20 runoff withWilliam “Bill” Sirmon Jr., 56, a resident of Luling. Faucheux, son of former police juror and council member Clayton Faucheux and grandson of the late former police juror Arnold Faucheux, picked up 6,812 votes in his first try at public office.

Faucheux commented, “I was surprised the people supported us as well as they did. It showed they were ready for a change. They want someoneactively involved.”He added he is “tremendously grateful” at the vote results.

Faucheux is in the runoff with Sirmon, present District 7 Councilman, who earned 5,558 votes.

Sirmon commented as to his campaign, “I’m just going to do some more walking, and I think it looks pretty good.”Present District 1 Councilman Ellis Alexander, 50, a native and resident of Hahnville, earned 3,861 votes.

Voters parishwide can vote in this race, west and east banks.

Council District 1 Desmond Hilaire, 33, a native and resident of Hahnville, earned a runoff spot in the Nov. 20 election with Terrell “T-Bone” Wilson, 40, a lifelongresident of the parish.

Hilaire earned 1,136 votes and led Wilson’s 863 votes. The Rev. DanWashington Jr., 67, a Destrehan resident, earned 342 votes.Council District 2 Brian A. Fabre, 33, a native and resident of Luling in his first try at publicoffice, defeated Edilia Kolb, 69, a resident of Luling, with 2,102 votes to 662.

Council District 3 Darnell “Dee” Abadie had no opposition as she qualified to retain the position to which she was appointed last spring to succeed Ron Phillips.

Council District 4 Terry P. Authement, 47, a resident of Boutte, earned re-election to hissecond term and squeezed past Bert “Danny” Somme, 57, a native and resident of Des Allemands, who served as District 4 Councilman from 1988 to 1996.

Authement, in his third campaign for this position, rolled up 1,213 votes to Somme’s 1,067 votes for the win.

Council District 5 In the hotly-campaigned battle to succeed Curtis Johnson Sr., April WinnBlack, 31, a resident of St. Rose and wife of District 5 Constable StephenBlack, is in the Nov. 20 runoff with Leslie Carter, 41, a native and residentof St. Rose.Black generated 785 votes to lead Carter’s 386 votes. Also in the race,Harold “Chris” Brimmer, 37, of St. Rose, picked up 183 votes; James “Jim”Easley Sr., 55, a resident of St. Rose who was making his thirdconsecutive run for the spot, picked up 354 votes; and Ricardo M. Smith,30, a native and resident of St. Rose, earned 312 votes.Council District 6 Lance Marino, 37, a native and resident of Norco, won the District 6 seat to succeed Richard “Dickie” Duhe, and defeated Robert A. “Bobby” ColonJr., 44, also a native and resident of Norco.Marino posted 1,767 votes to Colon’s total of 692 votes.

Council District 7 Barry Minnich, 44, a resident of Luling now serving his second term as Councilman-At-Large, defeated Irv Sanchez Jr., 43, a resident of Luling.Minnich succeeds Bill Sirmon, himself in a runoff for an at-large position on the council.

Minnich earned 1,337 votes to Sanchez’s 894 votes.

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