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EVERYONE.I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING THE JEFFERSON PARISH ASSESSOR, AND WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS WONDERFUL DAY, A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR PARISH INAUGURATION 2024.
SO LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT WITH THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE? HONOR GUARD, TIM.
OH, MAY I PRESENT THE HONORABLE JOHN WEEMER, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT CHIEF, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? THANK YOU, MR. SASSER.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE OF I OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WILL WE PLEASE, PLEASE WELCOME LESLIE CASTE WHO SING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, MS. CASTE OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE WHAT'S THE RIGHT'S LAST GLEE, WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARTS THROUGH THE WE WERE SO THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT I FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE REMAIN STANDING? AS WE WELCOME REVEREND DAMIEN BROWN FROM THE LITTLE ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN AVONDALE, LOUISIANA.
FOR OUR INVOCATION, REVEREND, LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND PRAY.
GOD, WE HUMBLY GATHER OUR HEARTS AND SOLEMN PRAYER FOR OUR PARISH AND NATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS WE ENJOY AS CITIZENS.
MAY WE BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR GIFT.
LORD, AS WE REFLECT ON THE FUTURE, WE PRAY THAT YOUR SOVEREIGN PRESENT WILL PROTECT OUR PARISH AND NATION AND THE ENTIRE WORLD FROM EVIL EQUIPPED US TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT JUST AND GOOD.
WE PRAY FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY ASKING THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEM COURAGEOUS AND FOCUSED ON YOUR PLANS TO GUIDE AND PROSPER OUR GREAT PARISH.
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM TO FIND JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE, TRUST IN YOUR PRECEPTS, AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR PREVAILING PROVIDENCE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE LISTENING AND WATCHING.
MAY ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR EVERLASTING GLORY.
HOW ABOUT THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM? WAS SHE WONDERFUL? THE GENTLEMAN WAS
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SUPPOSED TO DO IT, BUT, BUT HE, HE TOOK ILL THIS MORNING.SO THEY ASKED ME AND I SAID, UH, MAYBE NOT.
SO LET'S GET, LET'S GET LESLIE TO DO IT.
THOUGHT SHE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
WE FINISHED WITH ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
THANK YOU FOR BRAVING THE WEATHER, UH, AND GETTING HERE TODAY FOR THIS, WHICH REALLY IS A GLORIOUS DAY FOR ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT, UH, THAT ARE GETTING SWORN IN TODAY.
IT'S ALL, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH CAMPAIGN SEASON AND HAVE UTMOST RESPECT FOR EVERYONE WHO RUNS FOR OFFICE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, AND LET'S GET RIGHT INTO OUR, UH, OUR OATH OF OATH OF OFFICE.
UH, FIRST WILL BE OUR CLERK OF COURT, MR. JOHN GUGGENHEIMER, WHO IS ONE OF THE TWO, UH, OF MY FORMER BOSSES THAT'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY.
UH, MR. GUGGENHEIMER HAS REPRESENTED THE PARISH IN THIS GREAT CAPACITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
OUR CLERK OF COURT'S OFFICE IN JEFFERSON IS, IS NUMBER ONE, UH, THAT CERTAINLY WE THINK THE BEST IN THE STATE AND A, AND A MODEL FOR OUR, FOR OUR COUNTRY.
UH, HE'S HONORED TO BE SWORN IN, UH, TODAY WITH HIS FELLOW GUESTS.
THE FIRST TIME HE WAS SWORN IN WAS WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN BEEN A WHILE AND WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE JOHN.
HE, HE WILL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY THE HONORABLE EDWARD LOMBARD JUDGE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL RETIRED MR. GIEN HAMMERER
AYE, YOUR NAME JOHN GUGGENHEIMER.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME.
THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS CLERK OF COURT FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON AS CLERK OF COURT FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON.
AND THANKS TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT PARISH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
DURING MY VERY FIRST CAMPAIGN FOR CLERK OF COURT, I PROMISED TO TAKE POLITICS OUT OF THE OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OUT OF POLITICS.
WE'VE DONE THAT AND SO MUCH MORE BY STRATEGICALLY CREATING AND DEPLOYING TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED COURT MANAGEMENT AND HAVE LED THE MOVEMENT TO MAKE ALL THE PUBLIC RECORD AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
WE ALSO HAVE USED TECHNOLOGY AND DATA ANALYTICS TO VASTLY IMPROVE JURY SELECTION AND SERVICE PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS ELECTION MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING.
THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE, HAVE BEEN WIDELY RECOGNIZED AND HAVE BROUGHT US NUMEROUS LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS.
IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, MY OFFICE CREATED AND LAUNCHED JEFF WATCH A FREE INTERNET SERVICE THAT PROTECTS OUR PROPERTY OWNERS FROM SCAM ARTISTS WHO TRY TO STEAL TITLE THE PROPERTY.
IN ORDER TO FRAUDULENTLY SELL A MORTGAGE, I ENCOURAGE EVERY JEFFERSON PARISH PROPERTY OWNER TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR THIS FREE SERVICE.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO JP CLERK OF COURT US.
CLICK JEFF WATCH AND FOLLOW THE SIMPLE IN, UH, INSTRUCTIONS.
8,350 PEOPLE SO FAR HAVE DONE THAT AS OF YESTERDAY.
THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL BRING ADDITIONAL INNOVATIONS DESIGNED TO FURTHER IMPROVE OUR JUSTICE ELECTIONS AND PROPERTY RECORD SYSTEMS AND TO ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN JEFFERSON.
AND NOW I THINK IT'S TIME TO REMINISCE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE COULD ACCOMPLISH ANY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE HAD TO WIN THAT FIRST ELECTION, A TRYING, EXHAUSTING, EMOTIONAL PARISH WIDE CAMPAIGN.
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EVERYONE ON THIS STAGE AND MANY IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT POLITICS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.IN THAT INITIAL CAMPAIGN, WE WERE OUTSPENT MANY TIMES OVER.
WE WERE OUTNUMBERED, AND WE HAD NO POLITICAL SUPPORT, BUT WE WERE NOT OUTWORKED OUR MESSAGE AND WHAT WE OFFERED RESONATED WITH VOTERS AND WE PREVAILED.
THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF US, A FEW LOYAL, DEDICATED, UNPAID VOLUNTEERS, I AND MY WIFE RIGHT OVER HERE WHO MANAGED THAT MEMORABLE CAMPAIGN AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT FOLLOWED.
SO ALL OF WHAT OUR OFFICE HAS ACHIEVED BEGAN WITH THE UNFAILING EFFORT OF THAT SMALL BUT RESOLUTE GROUP WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND WHAT I OFFERED.
A SMALL COMMITTED TEAM WHO REFUSED TO BE INTIMIDATED BY A WELL FINANCED OPPONENT, WHO WAS THE INCUMBENT AND WHO WAS BACKED BY MANY POLITICIANS.
I REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR MY TEAM'S SUPPORT AND THE OFFICE'S ACHIEVEMENTS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT ALL OF THE EXCELLENT DEVOTED CLERK OF COURT EMPLOYEES PAST AND PRESENT.
THEY'RE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY BY MY HARDWORKING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND I ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
THANK EACH OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
I MUST ALSO THANK THE BENCH, THE BAR, AND ALL THE OTHER JUSTICE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF US UP HERE ON THIS STAGE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS HONESTLY AND WITH INTEGRITY MAY THIS TERM BRING CONTINUED SUCCESS AND PROGRESS TO OUR OFFICE AND OUR PARISH.
I'M HONORED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS YOUR CLERK OF COURT.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. GUGGENHEIMER.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, UH, IS OUR WONDERFUL SHERIFF JOE LIP PINTO III.
IF YOU ASK IN ANY SURVEY, POLITICAL SURVEY WHAT PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT JEFFERSON PARISH, WHY THEY COME HERE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFE IS ALWAYS NUMBER ONE.
AND THAT'S, UH, A LOT TO DO WITH HIM.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, OUR SHERIFF HAD NO OPPOSITION, WHICH REALLY A TRIBUTE TO HIM AND HIS WONDERFUL STAFF.
I'M NOT BEEN REALLY GOOD LATELY, SO I CAN'T MAKE FUN OF HIM.
I'M JUST GONNA TRY TO MAKE HIM FEEL GOOD.
UH, SHERIFF TODAY WILL BE SWORN IN BY THE HONORABLE STEPHEN J WINDHORST, JUDGE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL, DIVISION E SHERIFF, RAISE WRITING.
SO YOU KNOW THIS BY HEART BY NOW, CORRECT? YEAH, I GOT IT.
I, JOSEPH PLOP PINTO III I, JOSEPH PLOP PINTO III.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF LOUISIANA AND THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF LOUISIANA THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS SHERIFF ALL DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS SHERIFF FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
YEAH, WELL, LET'S LIVEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT, AT LEAST SHORT THAN THE CLERKS, RIGHT?
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UM, ALL OF Y'ALL THAT JUST PAID YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, REMEMBER, I AM THE COLLECTOR, BUT TOMMY IS THE WHO TELLS YOU HOW MUCH TO PAY.UH, I I REALLY WANT TO THANK Y'ALL, UH, FOR BEING HERE.
UH, JEFFERSON PARISH HAS HAD A REALLY GOOD YEAR.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY END THE YEAR ON OUR LOWEST CRIME RATE SINCE 1972.
UH, WHEN WE STARTED TRACKING, UM, IT SOMETHING VERY, UH, THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S REALLY OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? UH, THE, THE FACT OF IT IS, IS I HAVE, UH, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BEST DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SOLVE CRIME, BUT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION, WHAT THE CAMERAS ON THE HOUSES, ALL THE ABILITY FOR US TO GO OUT AND SOLVE CRIME QUICKLY TO PREVENT THE NEXT CRIME FROM HAPPENING, UH, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORKING FOR ME.
UH, THEY MAKE ME LOOK GOOD EVERY DAY.
UH, THE LEADERSHIP HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO BE ELECTED, UH, WITHOUT OPPOSITION ON THE PARISH WIDE EXCEPT FOR THE COUNCIL.
IS THAT TOO SOON? TOO SOON? I, I, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LEADERSHIP OF, OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE COMMUNITY THAT GIVES US TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
UM, I WOULDN'T BE THE SHERIFF THAT I AM WITHOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK FOR ME.
UH, AS I SAID JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, THEY MAKE ME LOOK GOOD EVERY DAY.
UH, THEY'RE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES THAT GO OUT, UH, ANSWER THE CALL FOR SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALL 9 1 1, THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE QUICKLY.
AND, AND THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE NECESSARILY IN ALL PLACES.
UH, WE WERE JUST ON THIS STAGE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, GRADUATING ANOTHER CLASS OF 20, UH, RECRUITS THAT CAME OUT THAT THEIR FIRST DAY WAS ON CHRISTMAS EVE, UH, WORKING, WORKING OUT IN THE STREETS.
IN FACT, UM, YOU KNOW, FUNNY STORY, WE WERE HERE CHRISTMAS EVE, UH, I'M SORRY, RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE WAS THE GRADUATION, BUT THEIR FIRST DAY ON THE STREET WAS CHRISTMAS EVE.
AND ONE OF THE ROOKIES HAD A FIVE 30 ROLL CALL.
AND HER FIRST CALL FOR SERVICE EVER WAS A HOMICIDE.
YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE, UH, SHOWS UP ON OUR FIRST CALL HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
UH, BUT IT, BUT IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THEY'RE READY FOR THE JOB.
UH, THEY'RE READY TO COME OUT FROM OUR ACADEMY, UH, TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A, A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THEM, UH, LEAD THEM INTO THE FUTURE.
UH, WE'RE, UH, GONNA BE 200 YEARS OLD NEXT YEAR.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP, UH, TO BE ABLE TO LEAD US FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, WE, WE WILL ALL BE REPLACED HERE ON THIS STAGE.
UH, BUT JEFFERSON PARISH WILL CONTINUE ON AND WE HOPE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER PLACE, UH, WHERE IT IS.
UH, SPEAKING OF THE SHERIFF THAT I AM, I WOULDN'T BE THE MAN THAT I AM WITHOUT THE, MY, MY PARENTS, MY WIFE, MY KIDS, MY IN-LAWS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE ALL HERE, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, THEY, THEY HAVE WITHOUT A DOUBT, UH, KEEP ME IN LINE, KEEP ME HUMBLE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT I ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION AND ALLOW ME TO DO THE BEST JOB, UH, IN THE WORLD, IN MY OPINION.
UH, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR SHERIFF.
MR. GUGGENHEIMER WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS FIRST RUN, HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE YOU JUST CRUISED RIGHT IN THE FIRST TIME, HUH? ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON.
UH, THIS FIRST COUNCILMAN IS THE SECOND OF MY FORMER BOSSES.
I, I WORKED FOR MR. GUGGENHEIMER, VOLUNTARILY LEFT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
THEN I WORKED FOR JUDGE EDWARDS AND DIDN'T VOLUNTARILY LEAVE
BUT, UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO, UH, TO, TO BRING UP, UH, MARIAN EDWARDS, MY FORMER BOSS, FORMER JUDGE, UH, TO BE SWORN IN FOR DISTRICT ONE.
AND MARIAN HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AS WELL.
UH, WHEN HE FIRST MOVED INTO THE DA'S OFFICE TO BE THE FIRST ASSISTANT UNDER MR. MA ELIS YEARS AND YEARS AGO, THE WEST BANK HAS COME SO FAR SINCE THEN.
WE HAVE CARS AND STREETS,
IT'S REALLY PROGRESS THAT MARIAN'S BEEN A PART OF THE WHOLE WAY.
SO IT'S HONOR TO HAVE HIM BACK REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE MION WILL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY THE HONORABLE BELINDA CONSTANT, THE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF GRETNA BOSS.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS COUNCILMAN DISTRICT ONE, JEFFERSON PARISH AS COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT ONE JEFFERSON PARISH, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING
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TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.AND JOHN AND TOMMY, YOU KNOW, I DO RECALL THOSE DAYS THAT YOU WERE MY, MY FIRST LAW CLERK.
UH, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT MUCH ABOUT THE LAW THAT I LEARNED.
'CAUSE I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TOMMY PORTIA SHOW UP HERE TO TAKE OVER THIS DUTY FOR YOU TOO.
YOU KNOW, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN LAW SCHOOL WITH OUR PARISH PRESIDENT'S FATHER HARRY LEE.
WE BECAME BEST FRIENDS, AND HE ASKED ME TO STAY IN THIS PART OF THE STATE AND BE HIS LAW PARTNER, WHICH I DID.
AND WE OPENED OUR PRACTICE IN GRETA, LOUISIANA IN 1967.
WE WERE LAW PARTNERS FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
AND I HAD OPPORTUNITIES AS FIRST ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DISTRICT COURT OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL.
I HAD A CHANCE ALONG WITH BELINDA'S HELP TO START ONE OF THE FIRST DRUG COURTS IN THIS STATE.
AND IT HAS BEEN, OVER THE YEARS, CONTINUED TO BE VERY SATISFYING FOR ME.
I LOOK BACK AND THINK THAT THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER THAT WE STARTED WHEN I WAS IN THE DA'S OFFICE, WERE THE REASON THAT I WAS HERE.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE.
AND I'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT EVERY, EVERY STOP THAT I'VE MADE.
AND I QUITE FRANKLY, DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'VE HAD AS A COUNCIL PERSON, BUT LARGELY BECAUSE OF, OF THE GREAT STAFF THAT I HAVE.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM SO MUCH.
I KNOW THEY'RE HERE SOMEWHERE.
WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE STAND UP? THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
I APPRECIATE IT FROM MY HEART.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, UM, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK WHATEVER I'VE ACCOMPLISHED HAS BE BEEN BECAUSE OF MY FRIENDS AND MY SUPPORTERS.
I HAD NO EXPECTATION OF BEING UN UNOPPOSED, BUT MY FRIENDS JUST PICKED THE BALL UP AND CARRIED IT FOR ME.
AND I WAS ELECTED, UH, UNOPPOSED.
I'M VERY PROUD OF MY SERVICE ON THIS COURT, THIS, UH, UH, COUNCIL THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SERVING THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AS COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT ONE.
I REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A GREAT DEAL.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARISH PRESIDENT, UH, WHO BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEAVES OVER THE YEARS, IS LIKE WATCHING YOUR DAUGHTER BE THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
UH, I'VE BEEN HONORED TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, JUST AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
BUT I HAVE TO, FROM MY HEART, THANK MY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR ME OVER THE YEARS.
AND MY BROTHER GAVE ME A, A LITTLE POEM THAT I'M GOING TO CLOSE WITH.
THERE ARE GOOD SHIPS AND THERE ARE WOOD SHIPS, AND THERE ARE SHIPS THAT SAIL THE SEA.
BUT THE BEST SHIPS ARE THE FRIENDSHIPS, AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE.
FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MARION WAS UNOPPOSED.
ALSO, UNOPPOSED IS OUR NEXT COUNCILMAN THAT'S GONNA GET SWORN IN FOR DISTRICT TWO.
DINO WORKED FOR THE PARISH FOR YEARS.
HE'LL TELL YOU
SO IF YOU EVER GET HIM AND AND YOU NEED TO GET ON TOP OF HIM, GIVE HIM A FIREBALL.
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DINO RAN UNOPPOSED, UH, AND HE'S GIVEN HIS HEART TO THIS PARISH FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.HE'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY BARRY BORDERLINE FORMER JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DINO, JUST, JUST BEFORE, OTHER THAN THE TWO LADIES THAT I MARRIED, THIS IS THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE.
COUNCILMAN, I STATE YOUR NAME.
I, DEAN O BONANO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES ENCUMBERED UPON ME, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT TWO AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT TWO, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT AN HONOR IT HAS BEEN TO BE GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN REELECTED TO A SECOND TERM BY WITHOUT OPPOSITION BY THE PEOPLE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT IS A TRULY HUMBLING EXPERIENCE, AND I'M CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT OUR COUNCIL AND OUR PARISH PRESIDENT, THESE LAST FOUR YEARS, HAS FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES DURING OUR FIRST HOMEOWNER, OUR TERM IN OFFICE, JUST 60 DAYS INTO THIS NEW TERM, WE WERE SLAMMED WITH THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC THAT CHANGED LIFE AS WE KNOW IT FOREVER.
AND AS IF A PANDEMIC WASN'T ENOUGH.
WE FACED TWO STRAIGHT YEARS WITH BACK-TO-BACK MAJOR HURRICANES.
BUT I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT NO PARISH HAS EVER FACED SUCH A GREAT CHALLENGE AND NOT DONE SO TWO YEARS IN A ROW SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DID TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES AND MOVE JEFFERSON PARISH FORWARD.
OUR ECONOMY OF SOUND IN JEFFERSON PARISH IS SEEN BY OTHER PARISHES AROUND THE STATE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ELECTED OFFICIALS, BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON GROUND AND COMPROMISES THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE OF THE PARISH.
AND NOT JUST A SELECT FEW SPECIAL INTERESTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH ELECTED LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, AND OUR CONGRESSMEN FOR ALL THE CUMULATIVE SUCCESS THAT WE ENJOYED THIS LAST FOUR YEARS.
WITH THAT, WITH THAT SAID, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.
WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS THAT WE'VE STARTED THAT WE NEED TO COMPLETE, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD MANY NEW, EXCITING PROJECTS THAT WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, SUCH AS REPURPOSING THE OLD ZEPHYR FIELD STADIUM INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY, AS WELL AS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE OLD HOPE HAVEN CAMPUS ON THE WEST BANK, INTO A CENTER FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS FOR ALL.
AT THE BEGINNING OF MY, FOR FIRST TERM, I PROMISED TO ALL OF MY CITIZENS THAT I WOULD WORK HARD TO REWRITE AND UPDATE OUR INDUSTRIAL ZONING ORDINANCES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS WITH CLEANER AIR AND LESS ODORS AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THAT EFFORT IS NEAR IN COMPLETION, AND THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THAT MATTER IN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS.
MY LARGEST COMMITMENT FOR THIS NEXT TERM IS TO DEAL WITH A PROBLEM THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
JEFFERSON PARISH HAS THE LARGEST SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
AS OF THE LAST CENSUS, WE HAVE SOME HUNDRED AND 1000 SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND I'M EMBARRASSED TO TELL YOU THAT WE ONLY PROVIDE THEM $1.5 MILLION A YEAR IN FUNDING.
IN THE, IN THE BEST PARISH OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE CITIZENS, SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE ON A WAITING LIST, HAVE MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
THESE PEOPLE NEED ONLY NEED MEALS, BUT THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICES LIKE BEING ABLE TO HAVE PREPARES DONE TO THEIR HOME AND OTHER SERVICES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE TO MY FIRST RESPONDERS, MY FIREMEN, MY POLICEMEN, MY EMTS.
I TOLD YOU LAST FOUR YEARS AGO,
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AS I STOOD HERE, THAT I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK.AND I THINK I HAVE FULFILLED THAT COMMITMENT.
EVERY DAY THAT YOU PUT THAT UNIFORM ON, YOU RISK YOUR LIVES FOR US.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BACK, TAKE, HAVE YOUR BACK, AND PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT THAT YOU NEED TO.
MY WONDERFUL STAFF, DWAYNE ANGEL, PAULA, AUSTIN, AND MELINDA, YOU GUYS ARE THE REASON FOR MY SUCCESS.
EVERY MEETING OR CIVIC ASSOCIATION I ATTEND, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CITIZENS COME UP TO ME AND RAVE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND YOUR RESPONSIVENESS TO THE REQUESTS.
AND MY YOUNGEST STAFF MEMBER, AUSTIN, HAS BEEN GIVEN A NICKNAME BY SOME OF THE, UM, ELDERLY WOMEN THAT WE GO TO.
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT
HILLARY, EVAN, AND AIDEN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE.
I KNOW THIS JOB TAKES A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM HOME, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THE SACRIFICES WE MAKE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY WILL MAKE JEFFERSON PARISH A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, ESPECIALLY FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.
LASTLY, TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, BOTH NEW AND OLD AND MARIAN, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SINGING AND OUT MARIAN AND TO OUR WONDERFUL PARISH PRESIDENT, CYNTHIA LINK CHANG.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU GUYS THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND CONTINUE TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
IN THE CLOSING, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE WARNING FOR OUR NEWEST COLLEAGUES ARE RITA AND HANS.
SHOULD, GOD FORBID WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR STORM AND WE DON'T HAVE POWER, AND WE HAVE TO LIVE IN THE YI BUILDING.
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT ACCEPT ANY INVITATIONS FROM A CESA CAPELLA TO GO TO HIS OFFICE AT NIGHT AND WATCH TV.
'CAUSE HE'S GOT THIS THING IN HIS FREEZER CALLED FIREBALL.
AND WHEN YOU GET UP THE NEXT MORNING, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR THE TRUCK THAT RAN YOU OVER.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP WAS, UH, WAS GONNA BE COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE BYRON LEE.
BUT, BUT JUDGE WEIMER JUST RULED THAT HE DOESN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
BYRON AND I ACTUALLY SERVED ON THE COUNCIL TOGETHER WHEN I HAD THE HONOR TO SIT IN ADEAS.
HE'S A PHENOMENAL FRIEND, GREAT LEADER FOR THE WEST BANK AND HIS DISTRICT AND THE PRIDE OF WEST JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BYRON AND HIS FAMILY.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HIM BACK.
HE'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY THE HONORABLE TROY CARTER, SENIOR CONGRESSMAN SECOND LOUISIANA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT B.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, MAKE SURE LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE WILL REPEAT AFTER ME.
I BYRON LEE, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I DIDN'T HEAR YOU THE FIRST TIME.
ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
AND I THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR HAVING YOU ALL HERE.
UH, THIS IS MY FORT SWEARING IN.
IT'S AN AMA IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY IN THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPRESENT COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE AND DO SO IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, IRRESPECTIVE OF ECONOMIC STATUS, IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION, THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPRESENT YOU AND TREAT YOU
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ALL THE SAME.IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE HISTORY OF JEFFERSON PARISH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ONE TIME ON THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL.
BUT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE NOW FOR MY FOURTH TIME, IT'S AMAZING AND IT'S A BLESSING FROM GOD.
AND SO I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE PROUD SON OF, UH, LALLA AND JAMES LEE, WHO WERE HERE THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, AND AS WELL AS THREE SIBLINGS OF MINE WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE, BUT THEY'RE ALL IN, IN HEAVEN, AND THEY'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR HOW I WAS RAISED.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ETHICS THAT WAS TAUGHT TO ME BY MY PARENTS.
MY FATHER TOLD ME, SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY, SON.
MY MOTHER SAID, TRY TO TREAT EVERYBODY RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IN LIFE.
AND SO I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AGAIN.
AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE.
I SEE THEM ON A ROLL ALL TOGETHER, MY STAFF AND BULL EGGS, MY FRIEND, YOU ALL PLEASE STAND UP.
AND ALL THOSE WHO WAS PART OF THAT, A TEAM FAT.
WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE FOUR YEARS AGO, THE THEME WAS WINNING.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR, IN OUR DISTRICT WAS REPRESENTED WELL AND WINNING MEANT GETTING THINGS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
AND I LIKE, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OF MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE BUILDING LIBRARIES IN THE WEST BANK AND NEW LIBRARIES ON THE EAST BANK.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN IMPROVING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FROM WAGMAN TO KENNER BUNCH VILLAGE, MARRERO AND HARVEY.
SO I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR MY STAFF.
ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT THREE FELT LIKE A WINNER OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
MY INTEREST IS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOK OUT FOR THOSE WHO OFTEN DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE.
MY INTEREST IS TO SUPPORT THOSE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES AND INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH JEFFERSON PARISH AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCIES, BUT JUST NEED GUIDANCE.
I DE I'LL DEDICATE MY TIME TO IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS AND WORKING WITH PARENTS WHO NEED TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED.
BECAUSE WITHOUT AN EDUCATION, MANY WILL PERISH.
I DEDICATE MY TERM ALSO TO OUR SENIORS WHO'VE WORKED HARD RAISING THEIR CHILDREN, AND OFTEN ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
I WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE FOR YOU BECAUSE I SUPPORT YOU.
UH, I'VE SUPPORTED YOU ALL OF MY PERSONAL LIFE AS WELL AS MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THINK THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT THREE WHO PRAYED FOR ME, FOR WHO SUPPORTED ME, WHO VOTED FOR ME.
YOU ARE KNOW, YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT ALSO THE MANY SUPPORTERS WHO HELPED TO HELPED ME IN EVERY ASPECT FROM RAISING MONEY TO ALSO HELPING ME TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO SAY TO MY SONS, I LOVE YOU.
I EXPECT FOR YOU TO BE GREATER THAN ME.
AND IF YOU ARE NOT, I HAVEN'T DONE MY JOB.
I BELIEVE THAT MEN HAVE TO BE MEN, AND THEY HAVE TO BE STRONG MEN BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE RAISING MEN, YOUNG BOYS, THEY BECOME MEN AND THEY LOOK AT THEIR FATHERS MUCH LIKE I DID MY OWN.
SO I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY DURING THIS TERM TO CONTINUE TO BE THE PERSON THAT I AM AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A STAFF THAT'S GONNA WORK VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE THAT THEY OCCUR.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN TROY CARTER.
WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR NEARLY 58 YEARS, AND SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM HERE HAVING SWORN ME IN.
AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK
[00:40:01]
MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, CAROL SMITH, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE.LET ME SAY TO HER, GOD BLESS YOU.
AND I WANNA SAY TO YOU ALL, GOD BLESS YOU ALL, GOD BLESS JEFFERSON PARISH MEN NEED TO BE MEN.
WE COULD ALL GET IN TROUBLE FOR THAT ONE THESE DAYS BEING WHEW, MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AND, UH, WE AS A PARISH ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE NEW BLOOD AND NEW IDEAS TO LEAD OUR, OUR WONDERFUL PARISH TO FIRST NEW COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT FOUR OR RITA BOHANNON.
DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT HER AND DON'T REALLY WANNA MAKE FUN OF HER BECAUSE MY HOUSE JUST GOT MOVED INTO HER DISTRICT AND
SO, BUT I DID SEE ARITA ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AT AN EVENT.
AND, UH, IT WAS A TOUGH CAMPAIGN.
AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF, UH, IF I HAD KNOWN THIS, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD'VE DONE THIS.
AND I SAID, YOU JUST HANG IN THERE BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS ARE GONNA SEND YOU A GOOD MESSAGE.
WE KNOW YOU REPRESENT DISTRICT FOUR.
WELL, SHE'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY THE HONORABLE JOSEPH STANE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OUT THAT WAY, DISTRICT 92 ARITA.
COUNCILWOMAN, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
PUT YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PERSON FROM DISTRICT FOUR AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PERSON FROM DISTRICT FOUR, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
SORRY, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME
SO FIRST I'D, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR, OBVIOUSLY, FOR GIVING ME THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I DIDN'T GAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE ALONE.
UH, MY REALLY GOOD FRIEND, JOE STANE SAYS THAT STRONG FAMILIES MAKE FOR STRONG CAMPAIGNS.
SO FIRST, I REALLY NEED TO START WITH THANKING MY STRONG FAMILY, MY PARENTS WHO ARE JUST LEAVING, UM, CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TODAY.
UH, MY DAD IS SO I KNOW MY DAD IS SERGEANT FIRST CLASS, UH, PETE LIPS, AND MY MOM IS ROSALYN LIPS.
AND IF YOU'RE AN ARMY BRAT LIKE I AM, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE SOLDIER THAT'S IN THE MILITARY, IT'S REALLY THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
SO I REMEMBER MY MOM BEING UP LATE NIGHTS, IRONING UNIFORMS, POLISHING BOOTS, SO THAT MY DAD WAS ALWAYS THE SHARPEST DRESSED SOLDIER.
AND HE WAS, HE ALWAYS GOT COMMENTS ABOUT THAT AND AWARDS.
UM, THEIR HARD WORK ETHIC, UH, REALLY SET THE STAGE FOR ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
SO I REALLY THANK THEM AND I APPRECIATE THEM.
MY SISTER ANN GAVE ME A LESSON IN LOYALTY.
SO A SPECIAL THANKS TO HER, TOMMY, PETER, THOMAS AND ANTHONY WHO ARE HERE, MY NEPHEWS TO MY HUSBAND BRAD, WHO WAS WITH ME, EVEN THOUGH HE LITERALLY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY FOR WANTING TO DO THIS, ESPECIALLY MORE THAN ONCE.
UM, HE THOUGHT I HAD LOST MY MIND.
UM, BUT NOW YOU'RE THE FIRST MAN OF DISTRICT FOUR
THAT MAN HAS BEEN HELPING ME TRACE CRAZY DREAMS SINCE I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
SO WE HAVE A SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S, IT'S MORE THAN A REGULAR MARRIAGE.
UH, HE'S MY, MY BESTIE MY RIDE OR DIE.
MY TWO SONS, THEY DROVE BACK AND FORTH FROM LSU NEARLY EVERY DAY TO HELP
[00:45:01]
ME CAMPAIGN.UM, THEY HAVE A LOVE OF COMMUNITY MORE THAN I DID AT THEIR AGE.
YOU KNOW, AT 19 AND JUST TURNING 22, UH, DEUCE HAS RAISED OVER $50,000 FOR OPERATION SONG, WHICH BENEFITS WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
AND BRYCE JUST WON A, A COMMENDATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE THIS YEAR, THE FIRST TIME IN HIS ENTIRE TENURE THAT HE GAVE THE AWARD.
UH, HE'S RAISED OVER 50,000 FOR THE GLEASON FOUNDATION AND ANOTHER, UH, 50 SOMETHING THOUSAND FOR, UM, CONFETTI KIDS, WHICH IS BUILDING A PARK IN A PARK DESERT, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALGIERS POINT.
AND I SAY THIS TO YOU, NOT JUST TO BRAG THOUGH, TO BE HONEST, I'M BRAGGING A LITTLE.
UM, IT'S BECAUSE FOR A FAMILY LIKE US, OUR LITTLE FOURSOME, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT GIVING MORE THAN TAKING.
UM, SO FOR US, THIS CAMPAIGN WAS ESPECIALLY HARD BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY, YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE FOR TIME, YOU'RE ASKING, UH, PEOPLE FOR SIGN LOCATIONS, YOU'RE ASKING THEM FOR VOTES ULTIMATELY.
AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO, TO DO THAT.
SO FOR MY BOYS TO GO OUT AND ASK STRANGERS FOR HELP AND TO KNOCK ON DOORS WITH ME EVERY DAY, WHILE THERE'S A LITTLE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT THEY DID IT FOR, THEY REALLY DID IT FOR THE LOVE OF THEIR MOM, WHICH IS HUGE.
AND OF COURSE TO MY CLAIRE, YOU CAN'T KNOW MY SON DEUCE WITHOUT KNOWING CLAIRE.
UM, SHE'S PRECIOUS AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER IN HER LIFE.
AND, UM, SHE DID GET A PROMISE RING.
SO MAYBE A FUTURE MRS. BOHANNON IN THE JUST SAYING, UM, MY EYES ON THE PRIZE, UM, TO MY AUNTS AND MY UNCLES, UM, AUNT SHEILA, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, BUT LOVE YOU, APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, A SPECIAL, UM, SHOUT OUT TO MY UNCLE BOB, MY UNCLE CHARLIE, MY UNCLE LJ.
WHEN I TELL YOU THIS WAS OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT, IT REALLY WAS.
BUT THEY WERE OUT THERE DOING IT WITH ME.
UH, MY MANY COUSINS STUDENT, LISA ESPECIALLY, UM, AND, UH, MY COUSIN LORI, WHO, UM, OWNS THE PRINTING COMPANY.
SO SHE DOES ALL KINDS OF FAVORS.
UH, GOING BACK FROM WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG, UH, MY BOYS FRIENDS WHO DROVE IN FROM COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE, THE A TO FRATERNITY FOR KNOCKING DOORS, THAT WAS INTERESTING.
UM, MY GREAT FRIENDS ADELE, STEVE, SHARON SMITH, CHARLIE BUCK, UM, MY DAD'S BEST, ONE OF MY DAD'S BEST FRIENDS, ROCKY BUILDING SIGNS FOR DAYS.
UM, STACY, RICHARD MELODY, UH, NEW FRIENDS, OF COURSE, ROBBIE AND MELISSA, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE, BUT, UM, NEW FRIENDS, KIM, PAT, JOHN, SAM, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE NOT PROFESSIONAL CAMPAIGNERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST BELIEVED.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, YOU'VE ALL SEEN THE COMMERCIALS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK GREG RIGEER, CHRISTIE CANAL, AND GREG BUSSON FOR STAYING WITH ME AND SEEING IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END WHEN IT WAS REALLY UGLY AND IT WAS REALLY PERSONAL.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ENDORSED ME, MAYOR GLASER, CHIEF CONLEY, THE ENTIRE KENNER CITY COUNCIL, STATE REPS, DEBBIE LIO AND JOE STANE.
I'M JASON LL UM, AND I'M SORRY IF I MISSED ANYONE, BUT I WANNA DO A SPECIAL THANKS TO GEORGE BRANNIGAN.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN DISTRICT FOUR, YOU WOULD THINK, OH MY GOSH, THIS LADY'S THE MOST POPULAR PERSON EVER TO LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR KINDER, DISTRICT FOUR.
THAT IS BECAUSE GEORGE BRANIGAN NOT ONLY KNOCKED, BUT HE CALLED THE ENTIRE DISTRICT PERSONALLY, NOT A PHONE BANK.
HE PERSONALLY CALLED EACH HOUSE SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TWICE.
SO I KNOW HE WAS HARASSING YOU, BUT THOSE NUMBERS REFLECT HIS DISTRICT'S LOVE FOR HIM.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE STATE REP DISTRICT FOR JOE STANE, PARTICULARLY HIS KENNER COUNCIL DISTRICT TOO, IT'S THE SAME THING THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO PEOPLE LOVING AND APPRECIATING THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SO I WANT TO REALLY, REALLY THANK THEM FOR, FOR GOING THAT EXTRA MILE FOR ME, IT SHOWED IN THE NUMBERS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LAW FIRM STAFF, UM, FOR COVERING FOR ME.
YOU KNOW, WE DO FAMILY LAW, SO WE SEE PEOPLE IN THE WORST TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.
AND, UH, I HAVE A VERY COMPASSIONATE AND COMPETENT STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
SO, CAITLIN, LINDA, LAUREN, CLAIRE, JENNY.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COVERING AND, AND FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FORT WHILE I WAS GONE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK DOMINIC ESTADO FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR BEING SO KIND DURING THIS TRANSITION.
IT DID NOT GO UNNOTICED AND IT WON'T BE FORGOTTEN IN LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
DISTRICT FOUR IS IN GREAT HANDS.
WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ANNIE CARDWELL, UM, AND SHERRY JINGO WHO ARE STAYING WITH US.
COMBINED, THEY HAVE OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN JUST DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, SO I'M, I'M AMAZED AND HAPPY THAT THEY SAID YES.
UM, JOHN TOBLER WILL BE THE LEGISLATIVE AID, AND HE HAS A VAST EXPERIENCE WITH DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES, EVEN A CONGRESSMAN.
UM, SO HE'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY CHIEF OF STAFF THAT WE HAD ANNOUNCED WAS EMIL LARSSON, WHO IS BELOVED IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, EMILE HAS SUFFERED A
[00:50:01]
BIT OF A MEDICAL CRISIS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR HIM.UM, UNFORTUNATELY, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE HIS, HIS, UH, HIS POSTS AS HE HAD HOPED.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS.
AND SO WE ARE SUPER FORTUNATE TO ANNOUNCE THAT LEE RUEL WILL BE JOINING OUR OFFICE AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
AND, UH, SHE IS A FORMER KENNER ATTORNEY OR KENNER CITY ATTORNEY.
SHE'S HELD MANY DIFFERENT POSITIONS, CAO WITH DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS IN PARA IN, IN JEFFERS, IN, I'M SORRY, IN KENNER.
SO SHE'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLE TO HAVE ON OUR STAFF SINCE THAT COMPRISES A MAJORITY OF MY DISTRICT.
BOTH OF THESE PEOPLE WERE HAND SELECTED BY ME, AND I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA SERVE WITH THE CARE AND DIGNITY THAT I NOT JUST DEMAND, BUT THAT OUR OFFICE DESERVES.
I PROMISE YOU COOPERATION, I PROMISE A COMPETENT AND RESPECTFUL EAR AND MY TIRELESS EFFORTS TO HELP YOU, HELP MAKE PAR THIS PARISH A PLACE THAT WE CONTINUE TO WANNA LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR.
I ASKED YOU FOR YOUR FAITH AND YOU SAID YES.
SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, IT'S THE RIGHT CHOICE.
I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU AND FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR HOMES EVERY DAY.
I WAS GONNA MAKE FUN OF THE TIME, BUT SHE'S CRYING AND THAT WAS AWESOME,
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FATHER, FOR HIS SERVICE, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.
I'M SURE IT SEEMS LIKE 50 MINUTES UNDERWATER.
AND NEXT UP IS OUR SECOND NEW COUNCIL PERSON COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT FIVE, THE HONORABLE HANS LOBERG, WHO'S THE DEAR FRIEND HANS.
AND I ACTUALLY WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TOGETHER AND DATING OUR WIVES IN LAW SCHOOL AND GOT MARRIED RIGHT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, AND CALLED TO TELL ME HE WAS HAVING A LITTLE BABY, AND HE HAD A BABY GIRL.
AND THEN HE CALLED TO TELL ME HE WAS GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BABY.
THEN I CALLED TO TELL HIM I WAS GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BABY AS A BABY GIRL.
AND THEN HE CALLED TO TELL ME, IT IS BABY A GIRL.
AND HE SAID, NOW, BABY, THE GIRL.
AND I WAS A GIRL AT ONE POINT.
AND THEN HE RAN THREE RIGHT UP AT THE END FOR THE FATHER OF SEVEN DAUGHTERS.
LIVES IN THE DISTRICT, GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT IN THE PRIDE OF DE LASALLE HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW THE DISTRICT'S GONNA BE IN GREAT HANDS.
HE'S GONNA BE SWORN IN, UH, TODAY BY HIS SPOUSE AND NOTARY PUBLIC.
JUST SOMEBODY HOLD THE BIBLE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I STATE YOUR NAME, I CONS LOBERG, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PERSON FROM DISTRICT FIVE AS JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PERSON FROM DISTRICT FIVE, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
SO THE BAD NEWS IS THERE'LL BE A DOLLAR SURCHARGE ON YOUR WATER BILL NEXT MONTH FOR THESE FLOWERS,
UH, AND I JUST, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO START WITH SOME ADVICE FOR OUR, FOR OUR NEW, I MEAN, FOR OUR EXISTING COUNCIL CHAIR.
I WOULD BE CAREFUL YIELDING THE DAYS TO COUNCILMAN COUNCILPERSON BOHANNON,
[00:55:01]
UH, IN THE FUTURE.UM, THE HARDEST THING ABOUT RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, WAS THAT YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE AND SAY, I'M GONNA FIX THIS.
WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD COUNCIL.
WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD COUNCIL FOR A LONG TIME.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HONORED I AM TO BE HERE, UH, TO SERVE AMONGST THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME.
UM, WE WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S EASY TO GO AND SIT, GO IN THERE AND SAY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIX AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO AND ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA DO.
BUT IT'S VERY HARD WHEN THINGS ARE RUNNING REALLY SMOOTHLY AND THEY'RE RUNNING REALLY SMOOTHLY BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL THAT EXISTS AND, AND THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME.
IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO, TO, TO JOIN YOU.
I THINK THERE'S A COMMON THEME HERE, UH, CLEAR AND IT'S FAMILY.
UH, I WOULD ECHO THOSE SAME SENTIMENTS.
UH, I, I'M FROM A LARGE FAMILY.
UH, MOST OF MY SIBLINGS ARE HERE TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE PASSED A COUPLE OF MA A COUPLE OF MAZES AGO.
UM, BUT I, I KNOW THAT HE'S PROUD AND, AND I WISH HE COULD BE HERE.
I, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW MY, MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SIBLINGS, UH, AND MY CHILDREN, UH, EVER GROWING FAMILY.
UM, MY OLDEST, GRETCHEN, HER SON, ROWAN KRISTA, HER HUSBAND JOSH, AND THEIR BABY, THEY JUST GOT MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER.
AND, UH, AND SHE'S DOING JULY.
I SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY WORKED FASTER THAN YOUR MOTHER AND I
I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT, UH, DID I MISS HANNAH? UM, I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT I, THAT I, I DO WHAT I DO FOR YOU.
I, I, AND TO MY SIBLINGS, MY PARENTS, AND MY DAUGHTERS.
MY WIFE'S GONNA MAKE ME TAKE A BATH WHEN I GET HOME, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER GIRL.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT WAS HEARTFELT AND BEAUTIFUL.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG, GETTING TO THE MEDIA PORTION, ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE OF OUR PROGRAM, COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE DIVISION, A JENNIFER VAN FRANKEN.
JENNIFER HAS SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL FOR YEARS, REPRESENTING DISTRICT FIVE, AND HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
UH, WE'RE PROUD OF HER, UM, AND HER FAMILY.
EVERYBODY'S BEEN TO THE BALCONY.
MR. JOHNNY'S HERE, WE LOVE HIM.
AND JENNIFER, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.
THE PRIDE OF THE ACADEMY, THE SACRED HEART.
UH, JENNIFER'S GONNA BE A TERRIFIC AT LARGE COUNCILWOMAN FOR DISTRICT A AND SHE'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY HER HUSBAND, ATTORNEY STEVEN DWYER, AS WELL AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE JOHN WEEMER.
JEN, PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, I, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, JENNIFER VAN FRANKEN.
YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, INCUMBENT UPON ME AS STATE YOUR POSITION AS COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE DIVISION A, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNDERSTANDING.
SO HELP ME GOD, CONGRATULATIONS.
SO I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND I SAID, OKAY, THIS IS INAUGURATION DAY.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH? UM, FIRST ON THE CHECKLIST
[01:00:01]
IS WEAR GREEN.I HAVE WORN EVERY SHADE OF GREEN IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS FROM LIME GREEN TO HUNTER GREEN AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
AND I NOW GET GRIEF IF I SHOW UP AT AN EVENT AND DO NOT WEAR GREEN.
SO THE FIRST, UH, ORDER OF THE DAY WAS, UH, WAS PICK A GREEN DRESS.
AND I, I WANNA THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, SUPPORTING THEIR SHADES OF GREEN IN SUPPORT.
UM, IT IS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A POSITION TO SERVE, BUT IT'S NOT ONE WHERE YOU GET HERE ALONE.
I REMEMBER TALKING TO MY HUSBAND OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN AND I SAID, YOU LOVE PRACTICING LAW, RIGHT? AND HE SAID, YES, IN FACT, HIS LAW FIRM WILL TURN 30 YEARS TOMORROW.
I SAID, IMAGINE IF EVERY FOUR YEARS YOU HAD TO ASK PERMISSION TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE DOING.
AND I COULD SEE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE LIKE, WOW, THAT IS A, THAT'S AN INTERESTING POSITION TO BE IN.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHAT I GET TO DO.
UM, BUT I DON'T GET TO DO IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND EVERYONE JUMPING ON BOARD, UM, TO HELP.
UM, MY DAD, MY SISTER, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, MY HUSBAND, UH, ALL OF THE, THE, THE VAN RANKINS, THE DWYERS, THE BALCONY FAMILY, UM, FRIENDS WHO ARE LIKE FAMILY, THE HERBERTS, THE GARRITY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE HERE WITH US, THE DONOGAN.
UM, THEY REALLY SIDETRACKED THEIR LIVES FOR MONTHS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN THE CAMPAIGN.
AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT TO MY STAFF.
UM, I SEE YOU SITTING TOGETHER AS THEY DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
I AM SO THANKFUL AND I SEE AN GAY UP THERE, UH, AGAIN, WHO'S LIKE A SECOND MOM.
EVERYWHERE I GO IN THIS PARISH, PEOPLE WILL COME UP TO ME AND THANK THEM BY NAME.
PLEASE TELL ALLISON, GISELLE, UM, MICHELLE, JEFF AND LAUREN.
THEY, THEY, UM, REALLY HIT A CORD OF SERVICE TO EVERYONE THEY DEAL WITH.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL AND SO APPRECIATIVE TO YOU, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY TO MAKE OUR OFFICES A SUCCESS.
AND TO MY CAMPAIGN TEAM, THANK YOU EACH FOR BEING WILLING TO SIGN ON TO WHAT WAS A REALLY TOUGH CHALLENGE, TAKING ON AN INCUMBENT, UM, TAKING ON A, A REAL ORGANIZATION OF, UM, OF, OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE, UM, AND BEING WILLING TO BELIEVE IN ME AND WILLING TO BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH THAT THEY WOULD, UM, WOULD WANT US TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND BEING THERE.
THE LAST ORDER OF BUSINESS TOO IS, IS, YOU KNOW, AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I REALLY FEEL LIKE JEFFERSON IS IN A UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL SPOT.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU'RE AT A SAINT'S GAME, MAYBE OF PAST SEASONS OR A PELICAN'S GAME OF LAST NIGHT, OR THE LAST FEW GAMES, AND YOU REALLY FEEL THAT PALPABLE SHIFT IN MOMENTUM.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS ENERGY THAT YOU CAN FEEL THAT THE TEAM IS GONNA WIN IT.
I REALLY FEEL THAT RIGHT NOW FOR JEFFERSON PARISH.
I KNOW WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT AND PEOPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, WALK UP AND TALK, THEY SAY, I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REALLY AMAZING GOVERNMENT AND RESPONSIVE AND, UM, THINGS GET DONE AND, AND THEY FEEL SAFE THANKS TO OUR SHERIFF AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF JPSO.
AND, UM, SO I THINK WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL POINT WHERE JEFFERSON IS POISED TO LEAD OUR REGION.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM GATHERED HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH, UM, AND TO CONTINUE TO COMMIT TO WINS AND TO MAKING OUR PARISH, UM, WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE, TO HAVE THE ECONOMY, THE JOBS, THE SCHOOLING, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN WANT TO CHOOSE JEFFERSON TO CALL HOME.
AND THAT'S WHAT EACH OF US COMMIT TO, UM, TO THAT SUCCESS OF OUR PARISH MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE IN THIS POSITION AND TO SERVE.
ALL STARTED WITH A PUNT BLOCK, DIDN'T IT? GO STEVE GLEASON.
I'LL ASK COUNCIL PERSON TO BE SWORN IN.
UH, TODAY IS COUNCILMAN AT LARGE DIVISION B, AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE SCOTT WALKER WHO RAN AND WON REELECTION.
SCOTT CAME TO US FROM THE NEWS AND ALWAYS WANTED TO SERVE.
GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT FIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH, AND HAS SERVED US REALLY WELL OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
UH, THE SECOND BROTHER MARTIN ALUMNUS ON THE STAGE, SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE GUYS DONE IT ALL RIGHT.
AND, UH, PROUD TO HAVE HIM LEAD OUR PARISH, UM, AND A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO SONS.
UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU SCOTT.
SCOTT WILL BE SWORN IN BY THE HONORABLE CHRIS COX,
[01:05:01]
JUDGE, 24TH JDC.MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCILMAN, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL OF THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, ALL OF THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME AS COUNCILMAN AT LARGE FOR DIVISION B OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, AS COUNCILMAN AT LARGE FOR DIVISION B FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
I WANNA SEND A WARNING TO CHRIS COX FIRST THAT THE LAST JUDGE WHO SWORN ME IN ENDED UP ON THE COUNCIL.
WELCOME ARITA, UM, ALL THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH THIS NEW COUNCIL, UH, VERY SHORTLY.
AND THANK YOU TO ASSESSOR CAPELLA FOR FLAWLESSLY MODERATING THESE CEREMONIES ONCE AGAIN TODAY.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN THIS MORNING.
UH, SERVING THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR FOR ME.
I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
EVERYBODY WHO STOOD BEHIND THIS INCUMBENT DURING A TOUGH ELECTION YEAR, I CANNOT THINK ENOUGH.
YOU'VE HEARD HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, AND YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE CRAZY TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, AND YES YOU ARE.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE BASICALLY RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE TO HAVE PEOPLE YELL AT YOU ON FACEBOOK.
NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
BUT THERE'S A PASSION THAT LIES BENEATH EACH OF US, AND WE DO IT FOR A REASON.
NO MATTER WHO WINS, NO MATTER WHO LOSES.
WE'RE ALL GOING FOR THE SAME THING, THE BEST FOR JEFFERSON POWERS.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE, AND THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS JOB.
THERE ARE SOME WHO SUPPORTED ME WHO DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CHOICE IN THE MATTER.
THEY WERE A LITTLE CLOSER TO ME THAN OTHERS, MY WIFE OF 23 YEARS.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
IT IS TOUGH BEING A WIFE DURING A CAMPAIGN, ALMOST AS TOUGH AS IT IS BEING KIDS DURING A CAMPAIGN.
JENNIFER'S BEEN BY MY SIDE THROUGH IT ALL 18 YEARS IN LOCAL NEWS NOW GOING ON THE FIFTH YEAR IN POLITICS, EVEN APPEARING IN CAMPAIGN COMMERCIALS.
SO SHE CERTAINLY HAS A, A WELL RESERVED, A WELL DESERVED SPOT IN HEAVEN, HEAVEN WAITING FOR HER.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'D LOVE IT SO MUCH.
JACK IS NOW 18 AND HEADING TO COLLEGE LATER THIS YEAR.
BECKETT IS IN EIGHTH GRADE, AND THEY BOTH INSPIRE ME, JACK, AS HE GETS READY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE, WHICH I STILL CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.
UM, IS ONE OF THE GREATEST 18 YEAR OLDS THAT I'VE EVER MET.
HE'S GOT A BRIGHT, BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM.
I HOPE IT'S IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
HE'S GONNA BE AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
UM, THAT WAS NOT ON MY LIST OF MAJORS WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE, BUT IT'S AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST AND HE'S GONNA DO A GREAT JOB AND HE'LL BE FANTASTIC AT IT.
AND I HOPE THROUGH THESE TWO CAMPAIGNS, THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED ARE TO FACE CHALLENGES HEAD ON AND TO NOT BACK DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE AND TO LEARN FROM EVERY SITUATION TO BE THE BEST PERSON THAT YOU CAN BE.
AND JACK ALREADY IS A, IS A SERVANT IN WAYS THROUGH HIS HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCES AND THROUGH THE THINGS HE DOES AT BROTHER MARTIN.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU ALL AND I'M SO PROUD THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME AND THAT YOU TURNED 18 THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION OF RAY TO CAST A VOTE FOR ME TOO.
THEY'LL ALSO BE OKAY WITH NOT GOING TO, UH, FAIRES FESTIVALS AND KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR A WHILE.
THANK YOU TO MY MOM AND DAD, JUDY AND BOB WHO ARE HERE AGAIN TODAY.
YOU'VE PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS JOURNEY, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
UH, MY SISTER SHERRY, HER FAMILY, MY BROTHER SEAN, AND HIS FAMILY, MY IN-LAWS, SO MANY FRIENDS, VOLUNTEERS, SO MANY SUPPORTERS THAT WE CANNOT THANK ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW, POLITICS IS FUNNY, NOT TOMMY CAPELLA FUNNY, BUT, BUT FUNNY IN THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF A JOB THAT YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE
[01:10:01]
AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.THERE HAS TO BE VALIDATION BEYOND WHAT YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE.
AND I'M THANKFUL THAT THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH OVERWHELMINGLY VALIDATED THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE CLEAR THAT PEOPLE DECIDE ELECTIONS AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.
I BEGAN A MISSION FOUR YEARS AGO TO USHER IN A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP IN JEFFERSON PARISH POLITICS, A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
AND YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THAT FROM ME OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FROM DAY ONE, JANUARY 8TH, 2020, WHICH SEEMS LIKE AN ETERNITY AGO.
YOU'VE HEARD WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED TIMES DURING THIS FIRST TERM.
I SAID MY OFFICE WOULD WORK EVERY DAY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS PARISH AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH.
I SAID WE WOULD USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS IN WAYS THAT GOVERNMENT NEVER HAD.
WE'RE DOING THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IF YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, IF YOU RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE AND YOU DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WILL THEN RESPOND TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS AN INNATE DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT.
WE SEE IT ON TV, WE SEE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT PERCEPTION AS MUCH AS WE CAN LOCALLY, AND WE HAVE TO DO SO THROUGH OUR ACTIONS EVERY DAY.
ON THAT NOTE, I HAVE TO THANK MY AMAZING STAFF WHO IS HERE TODAY, THOSE WHO MAKE SURE I STAY ON TOP OF THINGS, WHICH DURING THIS PAST YEAR HAD BEEN DIFFICULT AT TIMES AND WITHOUT WHOM I COULDN'T DO THIS JOB NEARLY AS EFFECTIVELY MY CHIEF OF STAFF.
BRIAN, I'M GONNA MAKE EVERYBODY STAND UP.
WE'RE STARTING A NEW TERM TOGETHER.
BRIAN, ASHLEY AND MARK, MY AIDES.
MARK IS HIDING IN THE BACK, BUT ASHLEY'S RIGHT HERE.
ASHLEY'S GONNA STAND UP SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE HER.
KIM AND JESSICA IN THE BACK, UNDER THE LIGHTS, EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU.
THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE AND THE BACK OVER THERE.
BRANDY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE PAST YEAR.
AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT I KNOW YOU CONTINUE TO DO OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THERE IS ONE RULE THAT WE FOLLOW EVERY DAY IN THE OFFICE.
IF YOU EVER HEARD ME SPEAK, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS AD NAUSEUM BECAUSE WE DO IT EVERY DAY AND WE MEAN IT.
WE RESPOND TO EVERY CALL AND EMAIL THAT DAY.
WE ANSWER QUESTIONS, WE TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, WE FOLLOW UP.
THAT WILL NOT CHANGE EVEN AFTER FIELDING HUNDREDS OF CALLS ABOUT GARBAGE AND RECYCLING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE HERE TO GET YELLED AT BY PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OUTSIDE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY, THOUGH I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INITIATIVE FOR WHICH NEARLY $2 MILLION HAS BEEN GENERATED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER JEFFERSON PARISH IS A DESIRABLE PLACE FOR BUSINESSES TO BE.
AND WE WANT IT TO STAY THAT WAY.
WE WILL FIGHT HARD TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
WE ALSO NEED TO CONTINUE MOVING OUR PARISH IN THE DIRECTION OF DESIRABILITY FOR OUR YOUNG FAMILIES, OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
THEY ARE OUR FUTURE, AND WE HAVE TO BUILD FOR THAT FUTURE.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO MAKE AN IMPACT, TO USHER IN MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
AND AS YOUR ELECTED LEADERS, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO LEAVE JEFFERSON PARISH BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT FOR MY KIDS, FOR YOUR KIDS, AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SO I DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT MISSION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON PARISH FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR GREAT FUTURE IN THIS PARISH.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW COUNCIL, BOTH NEW AND OLD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE GONNA DO.
OUR LAST PERSON TO BE SWORN IN TODAY IS OUR LEADER PARISH PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE SHANG, WHO FOUR YEARS AGO BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE CHOSEN AS PARISH PRESIDENT.
AND IN REALIZE OVER THOSE FOUR YEARS THAT THAT REALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT IS ALL ABOUT HER ABILITY, HER PASSION, HER LOVE FOR OUR PARISH.
UM, BUT ONCE YOU CRACK THAT AND GET TO KNOW CYNTHIA, SHE'S A LOVER OF EIGHTIES MUSIC.
SHE LIKES A GOOD OFF-COLOR JOKE.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HER LEAD, OUR TEAM, AND SHE'LL BE SWORN IN TODAY BY HER TWO AMAZING CHILDREN, MIRANDA AND GAVIN.
MADAME PRESIDENT AND MS. LIE, EVERYBODY SAY HI TO MS. LIE.
[01:15:03]
I STATE YOUR NAME.DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE AND PERFORM, DISCHARGE AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT ON ME AS JEFFERSON PARISH PRESIDENT.
ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT ON ME IS JEFFERSON PARISH PRESIDENT, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
YOU GO, MOM, LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
WE DID PRACTICE THAT IN THE KITCHEN.
I THINK IT WENT BETTER IN THE KITCHEN.
UH, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY ON OUR INAUGURATION DAY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
AND I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK FIRST, UH, TO THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH FOR BELIEVING IN ME ONCE AGAIN AND ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS YOUR PARISH PRESIDENT.
I, I KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, AND I PROMISE I DO NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR LIFE STORY, I LOST MY BELOVED HUSBAND STEWART IN 2014.
HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO, UM, TRY TO CONVINCE ME TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'LL BE 10 YEARS NEXT MONTH.
SO WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THIS ROLE, I FIRST HAD TO ASK MY CHILDREN THIS JOB, WITH THIS SCHEDULE AND THESE DEMANDS, IT CERTAINLY TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR FAMILY.
AND OUR FAMILY HAD ALREADY BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.
AND WHEN I ASKED THEM IF I SHOULD RUN FOR PARISH PRESIDENT WITHOUT HESITATION, THEY BOTH SAID, GO FOR IT.
AND MORE THAN THEIR WORDS, I SAW THE ANSWER IN THEIR EYES.
THEY WANTED ME TO LIVE IN A STRONG WAY, AND THEY WANTED ME TO LIVE WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
SO I HAVE TO THANK THEM FOR, FOR THAT SUPPORT.
AND MY MOM, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, ALWAYS FOR ALL OF US, EVEN AT MY AGE, IT STILL MEANS SO MUCH TO ME WHEN SHE TELLS ME HOW PROUD SHE IS OF ME.
AND OF COURSE, IMPORTANT DAYS IN MY LIFE, ALWAYS BRING ME CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED ME DEARLY AND HAVE PASSED ON.
I WILL STILL GET STRENGTH FROM THEM.
THEY STILL HAVE INFLUENCE ON OUR LIVES.
IT'S VERY, VERY REAL, THAT FEELING.
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST AND GRIEVED CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
TOMMY, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UM, MY FATHER, WHO, UH, PROBABLY WATCHING HIM LOVE PUBLIC SERVICE PROBABLY GAVE ME THE LOVE OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN MARIAN.
I JUST THINK HE'S SMILING DOWN ON US, NEVER BELIEVING THAT YOU AND I WOULD BOTH BE SERVING TOGETHER HIS BELOVED JEFFERSON PARISH.
I KNOW THAT, UM, AS I SAID, STEWART, MY, MY LATE HUSBAND STEWART, UM, THE MCGOVERNS WHO WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIKE A SECOND SET OF PARENTS TO ME WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR TO ME.
I WAS AN ONLY CHILD, BUT I KIND OF GREW UP WITH TWO SETS OF PARENTS AND INCREDIBLE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE.
UM, I'M VERY, VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE.
NOW, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE STOOD BEFORE YOU AS A NEW TEAM.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR FIRST TERM, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, AND YOU KNOW, AND YOU LIVED IT, TWO, WAS DEFINED BY CRISES.
WE DIDN'T GET THROUGH ONE YEAR WITHOUT A MAJOR LIFE-THREATENING EVENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH, COVID.
IN 2020 AND BEYOND, WE, WE KNOW WE WERE MANAGING COVID WELL BEYOND THAT FIRST YEAR HURRICANE IDA IN 2021.
UNPRECEDENTED TORNADOES OUT OF THE BLUE IN 2022.
AND THEN THIS PAST YEAR IN 2023, WE HAD 41 DAYS OF RECORD BREAKING HEAT AND SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER ON OUR PLANS.
SALTWATER WEDGE HEADING TO US NORTH.
SO WE'VE LEARNED, AND I'VE LEARNED THAT NOTHING BUILDS A TEAM LIKE ADVERSITY.
AND I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY EYES AND I'VE SEEN THEM GROW OVER THE YEARS.
IT HAS BEEN THE JOY OF MY CAREER TO WATCH THEM.
NOT ONLY DID THEY RESPOND SO WELL TO THESE CRISES, THEY HAVE EXECUTED WHAT I HAVE ASKED OF THEM, WHICH IS WHAT WE REFER TO.
WE HAD STARTED CALLING IT THIS NEXT LEVEL GOVERNMENT.
WHAT IS NEXT LEVEL GOVERNMENT? WELL, IT'S GONNA START WITH A DREADED WORD, TAXES.
WE JOKE AND COMPLAIN A LOT ABOUT TAXES, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT PEOPLE FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT PAYING TAXES, THAT'S OUR FUEL IN GOVERNMENT, IS EVERYONE'S CONTRIBUTION TO WHAT GIVES THEM A SAFE COMMUNITY, A WELL-RUN COMMUNITY PEOPLE,
[01:20:01]
EVEN MYSELF AS A TAXPAYER, I, I JUST START FROM HOME.JUST EXPECT THAT WHAT I PAY TO THE GOVERNMENT IS USED AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, AS FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK I SEE THAT AS A LARGE PART OF MY DUTIES AS PARISH PRESIDENT.
I AM IN CHARGE OF ONE OF THE LARGEST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE, 43 DEPARTMENTS.
AND WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, GREAT DEMANDS, BUT VERY LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE GIVEN TO US BY OUR TAX PAYING PUBLIC THAT ARE PRECIOUS TO US.
AND IT'S OUR ROLE AS LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS MUCH OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
LARGE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES CAN GET STALE AND THEY FALL INTO WHAT I HATE.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE MODE.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CAN HAVE TROUBLE PIVOTING QUICKLY, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE SO LARGE, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CAN FIND CHANGE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR ROLE.
UM, BECAUSE CRITICISMS, CRITICISM CAN BE VERY QUICK, CRITICISM CAN BE VERY PUBLIC.
SO THERE'S A TENDENCY TO NOT WANNA CHANGE.
AND I HAVE TRIED TO FIGHT ALL OF THIS.
THAT'S WHAT NEXT LEVEL GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT.
IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN DO THINGS? WHAT ARE THE NEW SERVICES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE? HOW CAN WE SHIFT RESOURCES TO A BETTER USE? I'LL HAVE YOUR BACK IF YOU CAN FIND THE WAY.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH US TODAY, WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY NEXT LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS.
SO I'D ASK ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF AND ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM TO PLEASE STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND I THINK THAT MOST OF THEM ARE OVER THIS WAY.
YOU GUYS MAKE ME PROUD EVERY DAY.
IN THE MIDST OF THE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACE DURING OUR FIRST TERM TERM, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE PUBLIC NEXT LEVEL INITIATIVES TO THE FOREFRONT.
IN JEFFERSON PARISH, OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM CREATED A PLAN THAT WOULD PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO EVERY RESIDENT IN JEFFERSON PARISH, EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY PIPE IN YOUR BUILDINGS.
SHOULD WE EVER BE THREATENED WITH THE SALT WATER WEDGE THAT CAME FROM THESE GUYS? WE'VE SECURED FUNDING TO UPDATE OUR AGING WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
OUR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OUR RECREATIONAL TEAM ARE NOW SET UP TO HOUSE PEOPLE AFTER STORMS WITH THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
THEY CAN HANDLE WOUND CARE PRESCRIPTIONS, PEOPLE CAN GET A SHOWER AND A WHEELCHAIR.
YOU CAN NOW GO TO THE LIBRARY AND NOT JUST RUN A BOOK, BUT GET A TELESCOPE, A GUITAR, A MUSEUM, PASS, A BUNT PAN.
WE REIMAGINED OUR RECREATION SYSTEM AND WE DARED TO DO THAT WITH NEW PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES RESULTING IN A 30% INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES TOUCHES ALL 43 DEPARTMENTS FROM NEW WEBSITES AND APPS TO LIVE STREAMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS AND ONLINE SOFTWARE.
CAMERAS HAVE EVEN BEEN INSTALLED AT OUR LANDFILLS TO HELP REDUCE LITTER.
KIOSK ARE INSTALLED AT TRANSIT STATIONS TO HELP FOR, FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED.
ALL OF THESE ARE JUST A SMALL SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THESE FOLKS BROUGHT TO YOU.
THE NEW PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES AND TECHNOLOGY OUR LEADERSHIP HAS INTRODUCED TO JEFFERSON PARISH THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, THESE PAST FOUR YEARS.
AND TOGETHER WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE FUTURE OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND FULFILL OUR PROMISE TO JEFFERSON PARISH CITIZENS TO DELIVER A MODERN WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR NEXT LEVEL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ACROSS ALL 43 DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO POSITION JEFFERSON PARISH AS A LEADER IN OUR QUICK RESPONSE IN INNOVATIVE RECOVERY SURROUNDING NATURAL DISASTERS.
THIS WILL INCLUDE NAVIGATING THE INSURANCE CRISIS AS WELL AS FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE RISKS THROUGH FORTIFIED ROOFS.
START OF YEAR DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY GOING ON REGARDING OUR PLAN TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES TO BETTER SERVE OUR AGING POPULATION AND USE TREE PLANTINGS TO IMPROVE THE BEAUTY EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY OF OUR VAST DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF OPEN CANALS.
IN CLOSING, I WANNA STRESS THAT OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS A PARISH IS CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE OF ME, IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR TEAM, 'CAUSE OF ALL OF US, ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE THAT I'M SO HONORED TO BE SWORN IN WITH, WITH EACH OF OUR EMPLOYEES, PLAY A CLERICAL ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR PARISH.
AND I'M FORTUNATE FOR THEIR TIME, THEIR TALENTS, THEIR ENERGY, AND THEIR RESOURCES THAT THEY GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEWLY ELECTED PARISH COUNCIL.
I I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING OUR GREAT RESIDENTS, UM, HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND AT, AT THE, AT OUR NEW TERM OF OFFICE.
I HOPE, AND I PRAY THAT OUR CRISES ARE BEHIND US, BUT I'M ALSO CONFIDENT WITH OUR TEAM THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WEATHER ANY STORM THAT COMES OUR WAY.
I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN BE YOUR PARISH PRESIDENT.
[01:25:03]
EASY, EASY ON THE TAXES.HOUR AND A HALF, HUH? PRETTY GOOD.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE SWEARING IN PORTION OF OUR AGENDA, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART COMES NEXT AND THAT'S GIVING THANKS.
SO FOR OUR BENEDICTION, WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME DR.
JUDGE MELVIN CINO, THE PASTOR TEACHER OF ST.
JOSEPH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN MARRERO.
PASTOR, BEFORE WE PRAY, CAN WE SHOW SOME LOVE TO THESE NEWLY SWORN IN OFFICIALS? LET'S THANK GOD FOR THEM.
SHALL WE BOW ETERNAL GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, LORD, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE GOD.
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE MERCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE AND A LOVING GOD.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS JEHOVA GOD.
YOU ARE EL ON THE MOST HIGH GOD.
AND WE LY COME BEFORE YOUR PRESENCE ON TODAY, EVEN AS CHILDREN UNTO PARENT TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR THE BLESSING OF THIS GATHERING AND THESE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE COME TO GIVE UP THEMSELVES FOR THE CAUSE OF SERVING YOUR PEOPLE.
WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT THOU WOULD HUMBLE THEM, OH LORD, THAT THEY BE MINDFUL THAT THEIR SERVICE IS FOR THE PEOPLE NOT UNTO THEMSELVES.
AND FATHER, THAT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO WILL GIVE YOU GLORY AND WILL GIVE YOU HONOR.
WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT YOU NOT ONLY WATCH OVER THEM, BUT YOU PROTECT THEM.
WE HEAR THAT YOU ARE JEHOVAH JARRAH.
AND WE ASK THE LORD THAT THOU PROVIDE ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT ARE NEEDFUL OF, FOR THE CAUSE OF THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THEN GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JEHOVAH SHALOM, YOU ARE THE GOD OF PEACE.
WE PRAY AS A DELIBERATE OF GOD CONCERNING THE MATTERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THEM.
OH GOD, THAT YOUR PEACE AND YOUR LOVE SHALL ABOUND.
AND THEN GOD, WE PRAY NOW, NOT ONLY FOR THESE, BUT WE PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WE PRAY FOR THEIR STAFF, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.
AND WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT THOU WILL CONTINUE TO SMILE UPON THEIR EFFORTS.
NOW LORD, WE ASK, OH GOD, THAT THEY WILL DO JUSTLY, THAT THEY WILL LOVE MERCY, AND THAT THEY WILL ALL HUMBLY BEFORE YOU AND KEEP US NOW, OH LORD, AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, BUT NEVER FROM YOUR PRESENCE KNOWING, OH GOD, THAT YOU ARE EVER WITH US.
WE GIVE YOU GLORY, AND WE GIVE YOU HONOR THESE BLESSINGS AND ALL.
NOW WE'VE ASKED IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.
AND THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD SAID AMEN.
PRETTY GOOD STUFF THERE, HUH? HEY, COIT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY TODAY.
UH, THEY WILL HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING, UM, SO THEY'RE GONNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SET IT UP, BUT WE'LL HAVE SOME WONDERFUL ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOU.
ENJOY WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE MEETING.
AND JUST A PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS FROM ME TO OUR WONDERFUL ELECTEDS, THEIR STAFFS AND FAMILIES AND ALL WHO CAME OUT HONORED TO BE WITH Y'ALL.
HAPPY NEW YEAR DAY, EVERYONE FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS.