Late councilman’s son sworn into dad’s seat

The son of the late Thibodaux Councilman Norman Swanner was sworn into his father’s post Dec. 11 by state District Judge David Richard.

Douglas Swanner will serve as interim District A councilman for the City of Thibodaux, a position his father had been voted into in October. After 18 years of service, Norman Swanner died Nov. 8 of massive heart attack shortly after being re-elected to the council without opposition in October.

The 56-year-old councilman was first elected to fill the un-expired term of Councilman Adley Landry, who also died in office, in April 2003. Swanner would’ve begun his full term on Dec. 11.

Family members said Swanner was a huge fan of Nicholls State football and would often be found cooking before games. The former Councilman also helped start the A+ Scholarship program at Nicholls, which raises money for scholarships.

Mayor Charles Caillouet, a close friend, said Swanner’s death was a huge loss for the city. “He was an unbelievably generous individual,” Caillouet said. “He was always upbeat and positive. He had a very good mine to deal with issues. He would always listen to both sides and I always admired that in him.”

Thibodaux Council Administrator Tommy Eschete said the council’s home rule charter states that it has 30 days from the date the deceased person’s seat is declared vacant to find an interim council member. “A special election will be held in March to fill the vacant seat for another term,” the administrator said.

According to Eschete, a special election is set for March 31, 2007, and, if there’s a need, a runoff will be held on May 5. “The new council member could take office in either April or June. It depends on the election,” he said.

Swanner’s seat was declared vacant on Nov. 13, and was filled on Dec. 11. The City Council nominated Swanner’s son, Douglass, as interim councilman until a permanent member is elected in March. By law, the interim councilman is not eligible to run for the council seat in the special election.

However, the late councilman’s widow of 36 years, Debbie, is eligible to run for the seat n and she plans to do so. Eschete said Debbie, 55, and other interested candidates, must submit their qualifications with the Clerk of Court’s office on Feb. 7, 8 or 9 to be eligible for the election.

In order for a citizen to run, candidates must be a resident of the district in which the seat is vacant. Debbie Swanner said her main reason for running is because she wants carry on her husband’s work.

“I spent plenty of time working with my husband on different ideas to make the city of Thibodaux better. I have a strong passion for this city and I just want to make it the best,” she said.

Since there hasn’t been a female influence on the council in a while, Debbie Swanner said, noting that she hopes to bring a woman’s point-of-view to the all-male board. As of now, her campaign slogan and motto are in the developmental stages.

“My husband wanted to do more things to unite families in the community. We are big on that in our own family, so I am going to try to continue his quest,” she said.

For the time being, the family orientation and goodwill of Thibodaux are in the hands of her son. Council President Chad Mire said Douglass Swanner has been a member of the community for nearly 18 years. He is very involved and aware of things that go on in the community and he will bring a lot of community involvement to the council, he added.

“Anyone coming to the council for the first time, like I did four year ago, really doesn’t have much legislative knowledge unless they’ve served on some type of board before,” Mire said.

Douglass Swanner grew up on the West Bank of New Orleans with his parents and his sister. The Swanner family moved to Thibodaux 18 years ago. The interim councilman said his family considers Thibodaux as its hometown. The family owns and operates several Bubba’s II Seafood restaurants in the Thibodaux area.