Experience versus new ideas in Thibodaux’s at-Large Seat E

Incumbent Chad Mire and Gary Palmer agreed that the city of Thibodaux needs to work on traffic and a long-term goal of constructing a multi-sport recreational complex as they compete for an at-large seat on the city council.

Mire, 43, touts his eight-year reign as a councilman as a time when he became a voice for the community and the council.

“I will continue to represent the people in the next eight years and make sure their opinions and needs are met,” Mire said. “I am the voice for the city council.”

Palmer, former chairman of the Thibodaux Civil Service Board, promises leadership, new ideas and a new vision. His first priority, he said, will be to work on zoning issues.

“I want to put emphasis on our zoning problems,” Palmer said. “We need to find out what our issues are and get a consultation on how to best bring our zoning codes up to date.”

Both candidates agreed that Thibodaux traffic needs to be relieved, but they brought up different issues.

“One of the issues that hasn’t come up is the Canal Street Bridge,” said Mire, who is assistant fire chief of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. “We have a brand new fire truck that cannot cross that bridge due to the weight limit.”

Palmer said the city should address the congestion issues with a cut-through road.

“We need to relieve some of the traffic,” Palmer said. “We need a road that will cut across one end to the other. For instance, from the hospital to the bypass, we need a corridor. The railway, what we used to have, would be perfect for that.”