Golden Meadow council race includes 13 vying for 5 seats

Golden Meadow voters will fill five seats in the town’s council on Election Day.

Bringing business back into the town seems to be a high priority amongst those running.

A total of 13 candidates (four incumbents and nine challengers) are seeking to fill Golden Meadow’s governing body.

Incumbent 64-year-old Priscilla Mounic (no party) joins Democrats Mike Billiot, David Adams and Jody Cheramie as incumbents seeking re-election.

Current board member Frank Boura’s place on the council is also available, because he is seeking election as the town’s mayor.

Mounic touted current projects that were set into action during her first term.

If re-elected, she said she would carry those projects into completion and push toward further expansion.

“Right now we’re involved in getting sewage finished in the rest of the town,” Mounic said. “We have a third of the town left to do to complete the sewage system. We need to see that done. We’re also having problems with our seawall and we’re getting that done.”

Several attempts to reach Billiot, Adams and Cheramie were unsuccessful at press-time.

Among the challengers, most tout business as a big issue in Golden Meadow.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s deputy and 33-year-old Desiree Bodin (no party) said she would like to see tax incentives offered to help business owners.

“I think the biggest thing is we need to bring in more business revenue, and I propose tax cuts for businesses,” she said.

Retired oilfield worker 44-year-old Dustin Bousegard (Independent) agreed and said he hopes to support more small businesses within the town’s limits.

“I’d like to see more small business in Golden Meadow,” he said. “More mom and pop stores. I just think that’s an area Golden Meadow is lacking on a little bit. I know with the tax rates in Golden Meadow, a lot of businesses had left. It’s come back a little bit since (mayor Joey Bouzigard) has been in office, but I’d like to work on that.”

Accountant Willis Toups and Harbor Police officer Troy Dufrene agree that the biggest issue is businesses moving shop and heading out of Golden Meadow.

The 70-year-old Toups (Republican) said he’d use his 43 years of experience in financing to try and keep work within the town.

“The top issue is to keep our businesses in Golden Meadow,” Toups said. “We have to keep people from taking their jobs out of town. We have to get with them and see which ways the town can help them to develop their business.”

Dufrene, a 43-year-old Democrat, said he’d try and promote office spaces available within Golden Meadow to try and show people that the town is an attractive place in ways that the parish government cannot offer.

“We need to find a way to get more businesses back in the town,” Dufrene said. “We can offer them things that the parish couldn’t offer them. Some of the buildings here are for sale. We need to find ways to make it appealing for businesses to come back into the town.”

One solution to the business problem could be Port Fourchon.

Challenger 38-year-old Roland Cheramie (Democrat) said he would like to see the town capitalize on its location in relation to the multi-billion dollar port.

“We’re the last town people pass through to get to Port Fourchon and the first town people enter when heading out of Port Fourchon,” Cheramie said. “I just feel like we’re missing out on revenue and promoting business opportunities in Golden Meadow so that we can grab some of that revenue and keep it here instead of watching it drive past the town.”

While business is on everyone’s minds, bridging the gap between government and the people it represents is also an issue.

Golden Meadow businessman Damien St. Pierre said he would create an open door policy to make sure that everyone in the town’s voice is heard.

The 29-year-old Democrat said, if elected, he would seek funding for sporting center to cater to the town’s youth as he seeks to serve as a candidate that can serve everyone within the town.

“I think my youth, desire and business experience sets me apart from the other candidates,” St. Pierre said. “I am young enough to connect with the youth of our town but I was raised with traditional values and that lets me connect with the elder people of Golden Meadow. I am part owner of three different businesses, all of which are inside the town limits, and that lets me connect with a wide range of people on a daily basis.”

Challenger and 58-year-old Lindberg Lorraine (No Party) agreed with St. Pierre’s statement that more needs to be done for the town’s youth.

He said he’d propose revisiting what is done with Oakridge Park.

“I’d like to see more things done in the Golden Meadow Park that just aren’t being done,” Lorraine said. “The Golden Meadow Park is really not being used compared to the other parks.”

Two of those seeking election to not believe there are major issues within the town and just want an opportunity to bring new ideas to the table.

Challenger 46-year-old Mary Lirette Costello (Democrat) said she wants to join the council to keep the town’s reputation where it is.

“I would like to join the team for the next four years so I could give my ideas along with theirs to keep up our great reputation as a great and safe town to live in,” she said.

Challenger and 56-year-old Elaine Cheramie (Democrat) agreed and said she can offer hard work and courage to the town’s people.

“I’m going to work for them if they help me by addressing their issues,” she said. “I want to help our town people.”