WDSU NEWS HOT SEAT. I’M TRAVERS MACKEL. TONIGHT, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR HOT SEAT DEBATES. THIS TIME WE’RE FOCUSED ON SAINT CHARLES PARISH, SAINT CHARLES PARISH IS A SUBURB OF NEW ORLEANS WITH A POPULATION JUST OVER 50,000. WE KNOW IT WAS HIT HARD FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA TWO YEARS AGO. TWO PEOPLE HAVE QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR PARISH PRESIDENT. THEY ARE BOTH HERE TONIGHT. ONE OF THEM IS THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN, MATTHEW JEWELL, THE CHALLENGER, INDEPENDENT DWAYNE LAGRANGE. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BOTH BEING HERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO GET TO. SAINT CHARLES PARISH, SUCH AN IMPORTANT AREA OF METRO NEW ORLEANS. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE QUESTIONS, EACH ONE OF YOU ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT. YOU HAVE 60S PRESIDENT JEWELL, WE START WITH YOU. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. TRAVIS. IN 2019, I RAN BECAUSE I SAW A LACK OF VISION, A LACK OF LEADERSHIP, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A LACK OF RESULTS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, WE WE FACED MUCH ADVERSITY, COVID, HURRICANE IDA, FLOODING, TORNADOES. THROUGH ALL OF THAT, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GEAUX AND TACKLE OUR DRAINAGE, FIXING OUR NEGLECTED CANALS, INVESTING IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. WE INVESTED IN LEVEE PROTECTION, BUILDING THINGS LIKE THE PARADIS CANAL FLOODGATE. WE SEE THE WEST SHORE LEVEE PROTECTION PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION MORGAN. WE’VE ALSO INVESTED IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR WATER, OUR SEWER, OUR ROADS, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THOSE NETWORKS ARE SAFE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND WE’VE EXPANDED RECREATION AND INVESTED IN OUR FACILITIES AS WE’VE DONE ALL THIS WHILE BEING FISCALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH. A BALANCED BUDGET, LOWER TAXES AND OVER $80 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING. ALL RIGHT, MISTER LAGRANGE, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. STARTED US OFF COMING IN UNDER 60S. SO MISTER LAGRANGE, YOU HAVE 60S TO MAKE AN AN OPENING STATEMENT. TRAVIS, THANK YOU. AND WDSU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. GOOD MORNING. I AM DWAYNE LAGRANGE, AND I’M A CANDIDATE FOR SAINT CHARLES PARISH PRESIDENT. I’M A NATIVE SON OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH. I’VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THERE. I’M A NATIVE SON OF THE PARISH. AND I’VE NEVER LEFT. I HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED AND REARED IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH AND PROUD OF IT. I’VE BEEN EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. ASIDE FROM MY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I DID COMPLETE COURSE WORK AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CITY. I’VE HAD OVER 30 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN VESTRY AND PARISH GOVERNMENT. I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT I’VE SERVED AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. I AM KNOWN FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BRIDGING THE GAP IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WE FACED SOME SERIOUS DOWNFALLS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK AND MAKE SOME THINGS COMPLETE WITHIN OUR ADMINISTRATION. KHERSON. I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BUILDING ALLIANCES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND TODAY I MAINTAIN MANY OF THOSE ALLIANCES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PEOPLE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. MY RECORD FOR SUCCESS IN WORKING IN PARISH GOVERNMENT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE AND THE THE PARISH OF SAINT CHARLES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU CAME IN RIGHT AT A MINUTE. LET’S START THIS QUESTION OFF WITH YOU. YOU HAVE 60S FOR THIS ANSWER, MR. LAGRANGE SAINT CHARLES PARISH IS FACING AN INSURANCE CRISIS LIKE THE REST OF THE STATE. IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO TRY TO GET BETTER INSURANCE RATES AND HELP WITH THIS CRISIS IN YOUR PARISH? WELL, TRAVIS, WHAT I WOULD DO IS I WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR NATIONAL DELEGATION. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT JUST GOING TO GO AWAY. WE HAVE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR NATIONAL DELEGATION AS WELL AS OUR STATE DELEGATION, AS WE LOOK AT THE WATERSHED SITUATION IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH AND OTHER AREAS, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB MAINTAINING AND BEING HAVING MORE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN PLACE. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAY ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE IT’S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE IN OUR IN OUR DELEGATION TO HAVE A VOICE FOR US. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE ON THIS AND WE HAVE TO DO IT WHILE THE IRON’S HOT. STRIKE WHILE THE IRON’S HOT. ALL RIGHT, MR. JEWELL, SAME QUESTION IN 60S. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN IF RE ELECTED TO HELP ADDRESS THE INSURANCE CRISIS THAT’S GRIPPING THE STATE BUT IS HITTING SAINT CHARLES PARISH HARD? YEAH. TRAVIS, I WAS, AS WE KNOW IN SURANCE PROPERTY INSURANCE IS A BIG ISSUE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR, AGAIN, OUR NATIONAL DELEGATION AND OUR STATE DELEGATION TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS REFORMS THAT REQUIRE THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COME TO THE TABLE. WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE A CLAIM TO MAKE. IT’S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE PAID INTO INSURANCE FOR SO LONG. AND THEN WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR FIRST CLAIM AFTER HURRICANE IDA THAT THEY ARE MET WITH WITH NEGLECT AND THEY’RE MET WITH A DEFENSIVE NATURE. SO WE HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT EVEN FURTHER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT FLOOD INSURANCE, WE DIDN’T STAND AROUND IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH WHEN THE FLOOD INSURANCE STARTED TO START TO RISE. WE ACTUALLY WENT IN AND SUED FEMA FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WHAT IS THE MODEL THAT THEY’RE USING TO CALCULATE THESE OUTRAGEOUS FLOOD INSURANCE RATES FOR SAINT CHARLES PARISH? WE’VE INITIATED THAT LAWSUIT. WE’VE JOINED ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY’S LAWSUIT, AND WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH ON THIS ISSUE. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. IT’S A HOT BUTTON ISSUE THAT POPPED UP RECENTLY. IT MADE A LOT OF NEWS HEADLINES IN 60S. MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR PARISH HAVE RECENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR WATER BILLS, SAYING THEY HAVE ISSUES. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TRY TO FIX THAT ISSUE? FOR PEOPLE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH IN 60S? WELL, TRAVIS, AS YOU KNOW, WATER IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE. WE HEAR THIS FROM TIME TO TIME FROM VARIOUS PARISHES AND IN JUNE OF 2023, WE SAW SOME FOLKS WITH HIGH WATER BILLS. WE TOOK THE STEPS TO FIND THE ACTUAL TRANSPARENCY, TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE DID A FULL WATER AUDIT. WE TESTED METERS BY INDEPENDENT, AN INDEPENDENT LABORATORY, AND THE INFORMATION THAT CAME BACK SHOWED THAT ACTUALLY OUR CONSUMPTION ON ON AVERAGE IS DOWN OVER 200 GALLONS FROM JUNE OF 2023, FROM LAST JUNE. NOW, I KNOW WHILE SOME PEOPLE WANT TO TRY TO POLITICIZE THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE’S AN ELECTION, THE FACTS ACTUALLY SHOW THAT THERE’S NOT AN ISSUE. AND WE’VE BEEN WORKING WITH EVERY PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY’VE HAD AN ISSUE INDIVIDUALLY. SO IS IT JUST A CALCULATION ISSUE THEN, BASICALLY, OR JUST IS IT LIKE A COMPUTER GLITCH OR SOMETHING OR, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO ISSUE WITH OUR METERS. OUR METERS WERE ACCURATE. OUR WATER, OUR AVERAGE WATER BILL WAS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE’VE SEEN. IN FACT, WHEN YOU LOOK FROM 2010 TO NOW, WATER AVERAGES HAVE ACTUALLY COME DOWN. WE’VE SEEN LEAKS. WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T REALIZE HOW MUCH WATER THEY WERE PUTTING ON THEIR LAWNS WHEN THEY WERE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WITH THOSE RESIDENTS AND FIXING A LOT OF THEIR CONCERNS. ALL RIGHT, MISTER LAGRANGE IN 60S, SAME QUESTION. IF YOU ARE ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE ABOUT WATER BILLS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH? TRAVIS I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENT’S OPINION ON THIS. I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE. ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR, A YOUNG LADY, SINGLE PARENT, THREE KIDS. WHAT OUR BILL, $890. SHE HIRED TO TWO SEPARATE PLUMBERS TO COME IN AND CHECK FOR LEAKS. NO LEAKS DETECTED. TWO CERTIFIED PLUMBERS. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO A SINGLE PARENT WITH THREE KIDS THAT YOU HAVE $890 TO PAY AND YOU HAVE TO GO INTO YOUR BUDGET, YOUR FAMILY BUDGET TO PAY THAT? WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT. WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS THAT THE INDEPENDENT AUDIT AUDITOR WAS ACTUALLY SOMEONE WHO WAS HIRED BY THE PARISH WHOSE WORK 20 YEARS FOR THE PARISH ON CONTRACTS. SO HOW CAN THAT BE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT? THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. LISTEN, IF WE’RE WRONG, LET’S MAKE IT RIGHT. THAT’S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WILL DO WHEN I TAKE OFFICE IN JANUARY IS ADDRESS THIS WATER BILL ISSUE. THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN WE’RE HEARING ABOUT, I BELIEVE. ALL RIGHT. IT SEEMS LIKE A STORY THAT’S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. OKAY. IN 60S, WE’LL START THIS ONE WITH WITH YOU, MR. LAGRANGE. IT’S A BIG ONE. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL KNOW THE EFFECTS THAT HURRICANE IDA HAD ON SAINT CHARLES PARISH. IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE WORST STORM TO EVER HIT SAINT CHARLES PARISH IN 60S. WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR IDA RECOVERY IN SAINT CHARLES TRAVIS AS OUR PARISH WAS DEVASTATED, WE WERE HIT PRETTY HARD. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STILL FEELING THE AFTER EFFECTS. A LOT OF HOMES ARE STILL NOT REPAIRED. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE COALITIONS TO BUILD AND HELP PEOPLE GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN RELAX AND GET BACK INTO THEIR HOMES. AND ME, AS A BOARD MEMBER OF UNITED WAY, WE’VE STEPPED OUT AND MADE SURE THAT WE MADE PEOPLE WHOLE IN AREAS THAT WE COULD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE’VE LACKED IN WAS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE TREATED WITH THE SAME RESPECT AS THEY WERE TREATING AND TREATED OTHER AREAS OF THE PARISH. WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STEP UP, DO WHAT’S WHAT’S NECESSARY AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO GET THINGS DONE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. I THINK THAT WE’RE SEVERELY LACKING. STILL, TWO YEARS LATER, WE CAN DO BETTER. WE’RE CONSIDERED THE PARISH OF PLENTY. I THINK WE NEED TO LEAVE LIVE UP TO IT. ALL RIGHT, MR. JEWELL, YOU ARE THE PARISH PRESIDENT. WHEN I TO HIT A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN 60S. WHAT’S STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP WITH THE RECOVERY AFTER IDA TRAVERS, IDA WAS CERTAINLY THE WORST, WORST STORM TO EVER HIT SAINT CHARLES PARISH AND OUR DRAINAGE WAS AFFECTED. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS AFFECTED AND I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR TEAM AT SAINT CHARLES PARISH, OUR EMPLOYEES, MY TEAM, WE WENT TO WORK AS SOON AS THE STORM HIT, PUTTING OUR PARISH BACK TOGETHER. AND THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. WHEN YOU GO AROUND AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER PARISHES THAT WERE HIT BY HURRICANE IDA, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MUCH BETTER OFF. MY MY OPPONENT TALKS ABOUT COALITIONS. WE HAD COALITIONS. WE HAD INDUSTRY, WE HAD UNITED WAY. WE HAD EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE HELPING US TO REBUILD, HELPING US TO RESTORE AFTER THAT STORM. AND I BELIEVE WE’VE DONE THAT. IS THERE WORK LEFT TO DO? YES, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STATE EVERY DAY ON HOUSING ISSUES. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PROPERTY OWNERS ON ON INSURANCE ISSUES. SO, YOU KNOW, RECOVERY IS NOT A SHORT PROCESS. I BELIEVE WE ARE MOST OF THE WAY THERE, BUT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO STILL ARE WITHOUT WITHOUT THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE. TRAVIS, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. OKAY. THAT’S LOOK, THIS IS A I APPRECIATE IT. AND I THINK BOTH OF YOU ALL HAVE GREAT INTENTIONS BECAUSE IDA IS A BIG TOPIC AND IT’S NOT GOING AWAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW. WE COULD SPEND ALMOST THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT IDA. UNFORTUNATELY. LET’S MOVE ON. MR. JEWELL, IN RECENT YEARS, YOU HAVE LOBBIED AGAINST CALLING PARTS OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH, CANCER ALLEY, EVEN THOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CLAIM THAT THERE ARE CANCER CLUSTERS THAT EXIST IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS IN 60S. CAN YOU DEFEND THE CLAIM THAT SAINT SAINT CHARLES PARISH IS NOT CANCER? ALLEY YEAH, WELL, IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THE LSU TUMOR REGISTRY TRAVERSE, YOU SEE THAT REAL DATA EXISTS THAT SHOWS THAT SAINT CHARLES PARISH IN A LOT OF OUR INDUSTRIAL PARISHES ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER CANCER OUTCOMES THAN AREAS IN, SAY, NORTH LOUISIANA THAT ACTUALLY HAVE NO INDUSTRY WHATSOEVER. SO I BELIEVE IT’S JUST DISINGENUOUS TO TIE THE CANCER RATES IN THE SOUTH IN GENERAL TO INDUSTRY. NOW, I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DO THAT. THEY WANT TO SHUT DOWN THESE PLANTS. THEY WANT TO TAKE THESE JOBS AWAY. AND THEY’RE NOT WORRIED IF THESE CHEMICALS OR THESE THIS ENERGY IS PRODUCED SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY JUST DON’T WANT IT PRODUCED IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. THEY DON’T WANT IT PRODUCED IN AMERICA. AND SO I DO DEFEND THAT STATEMENT WHENEVER I HEAR IT. AND I DON’T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE MAKING THOSE STATEMENTS WHEN THERE’S CERTAINLY OPPOSING INFORMATION THAT SAYS OTHERWISE. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION, MR. LAGRANGE. AND I KNOW THAT HE’S MADE STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS, BUT WE WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS. IN 60S SAINT CHARLES PARISH HAS BEEN CALLED CANCER ALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CLAIM THAT THEY ARE A CANCER CLUSTERS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON CALLING SAINT CHARLES PARISH OR REFERRING TO IT AS CANCER? ALLEY WELL, I TELL YOU, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE OFFENSE TO. WE KNOW THAT WE TAKE OUR FACILITIES, TAKE MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE. I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN INDUSTRY. ONE OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS THAT I HAD WAS ACTUALLY POSITIONING AND MANAGING THE FIVE MONITORING STATIONS AT A LOCAL FACILITY IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY. IT’S IMPORTANT WHILE WE HAVE INDUSTRY AND THAT THEY PROVIDE GREAT RESOURCES FOR OUR FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, JOBS AND TAX BASE. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT THEY OPERATE MORE RESPONSIBLY. BUT AGAIN, I WELCOME INDUSTRY AND WHAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT INDUSTRY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN WHAT WE DO IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. IT PROVIDES A LOT OF AMENITIES THAT WE NEED, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE AND THAT THEY OPERATE RESPONSIBLY. ALL RIGHT. LET’S START THIS QUESTION WITH YOU. ANOTHER 62ND ANSWER HERE. RECENTLY, IT’S MADE HEADLINES THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN SAINT ROSE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT AIR QUALITY CONCERNS IN 60S. IF YOU’RE ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS NOT JUST THIS RECENT UPTICK, BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE AIR QUALITY CONCERNS IN PLACES LIKE SAINT ROSE? WELL, I RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL FROM A YOUNG LADY. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT SHE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO. THIS WAS INVOLVING A COMPANY THAT HAD SOME LIMESTONE ISSUES THAT WERE CREATING DUST FOLLICLES. WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY IF THOSE ARE HEALTH ISSUES OR THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY THESE THINGS OR WHAT, BUT WHAT I DID WAS I SPRUNG INTO ACTION, GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE PROPER AUTHORITIES AND ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND FIND OUT WHAT CAN THEY HELP TO REGULATE THIS SITUATION. IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR PEOPLE’S VOICES. AND WHEN YOU GET A CALL FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND IT GOES TO OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS SYSTEM, WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS SYSTEM, OUR EOC TAKES CONTROL OF THAT AND AND DISSEMINATES THAT CALL TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT ALSO THAT WE NEED TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, A GOOD NEIGHBOR INITIATIVE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN TAKE A COMMUNITY A LONG WAY. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAY INVOLVED AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OWN AND OPERATE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES. IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. ALL RIGHT, MISTER JEWELL, SAME QUESTION. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN IF REELECTED FOR AIR QUALITY ISSUES IN THE STATE SINCE THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN SAINT ROSE WHERE PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT AIR QUALITY ISSUES? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AS WELL. YEAH. TRAVIS, MY OPPONENT’S BEING DISINGENUOUS RIGHT OFF THE BAT. THE FIRST PLACE THAT THIS LADY REACHED OUT TO WAS THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER. AND WE CONTACTED THE DEQ. HE REACHED OUT TO HER BECAUSE, AGAIN, POLITICIZING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM IN THIS ELECTION. BUT WE REACHED OUT TO DEQ. WE MADE CONTACT. I, I REACHED OUT TO THE BUSINESS OWNER. AND FURTHERMORE, WE’VE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE’VE TALKED IT THROUGH AND FURTHERED FOR OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH, SENT LETTERS TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THAT THAT THAT INCIDENT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THEY CREATED A DANGEROUS HAZARD FOR THE RESIDENTS IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH WITH THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF DUST. SO MOVING FORWARD, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE EC, WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE THIS DON’T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE TALK REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT 20S YOU SINCE YOU SAID YOU WERE BEING DISINGENUOUS, WE’LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TO I HAVE TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME THAT THAT PARTICULAR PERSON HAD REACHED OUT TO THE PARISH PRESIDENT AND HAD NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE ON PREVIOUS INQUIRIES. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLITICAL, POLITICAL POLITICIZING ANYTHING, HERE WE ARE. OKAY. IT’S THE ELECTION SEASON. SO OBVIOUSLY EVERY ISSUE IS PROBABLY HOT BUTTON AT THIS POINT. 60S MR. JEWELL, LET’S TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S A BIG ISSUE FOR ALL OF SOUTH LOUISIANA. IF YOU WERE REELECTED IN SIX 60S, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO BRING MORE BUSINESSES TO SAINT CHARLES PARISH? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY AREA PICKED OUT THAT’S RIPE FOR BUSINESS WHEN I RAN FOR SAINT CHARLES PARISH PRESIDENT, I WANTED TO DO MORE THAN JUST LOOK AT INDUSTRY. I WANTED DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY. AND WE’VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL BUSINESSES. ONE BUSINESS THAT COMES TO MIND IS GREENLEAF TEA. WE ARE NOW BLENDING TEA IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH THAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE. IT’S A BUSINESS TO BUSINESS VENTURE WITH PEOPLE LIKE COCA COLA AND OTHERS. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES. WE ALSO HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENERGY SOURCES COMING IN SAINT CHARLES CLEAN FUELS. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH SINCE WATERFORD THREE AT AN EXISTING FACILITY TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A PARTICULAR PLACE PICKED OUT, NO, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL AREAS OF THE PARISH THAT ARE RIPE FOR DEVELOPMENT, THAT ARE ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, AND THAT’S WHERE WE’LL FOCUS OUR ATTENTION. ALL RIGHT. SAME QUESTION, MR. LAGRANGE IN 60S, IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN TO BRING MORE BUSINESS TO SAINT CHARLES? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY AREA PICKED OUT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GO TO? TRAVIS I’VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD ALONG THE HIGHWAY 90 CORRIDOR. WE’VE SEEN MANY OF THE BUSINESSES STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT THERE. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING THEM WITH THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE IT, BUT WE’VE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN. RECENTLY. WE HAD A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT’S A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS THAT WAS APPROACHED BY SOMEONE IN OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT, BASICALLY TALKING TO THEM ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAD ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES AND INSURANCES THEY HAD IT. SO WHEN WE START BEING THAT CRUCIAL WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND PUTTING THAT TYPE OF STRAIN ON THEM, PEOPLE TEND TO WANT TO LEAVE THE PARISH AND WANT TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SMALL BUSINESSES A PRIORITY. IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH, IT’S ONE OF THE ECONOMIC ENGINES THAT DRIVES US. WE CAN DO BETTER WITH THAT. AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE SEE IS GOVERNMENT INTERVENING TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE JUST DON’T WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT 20S IS THAT THE CASE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH? NO, I DON’T BELIEVE SO. WE HAVE PRIORITIZED AS OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE EVEN HAD A SHOP LOCAL CAMPAIGN TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. I WAS THE ONE WHO GOT A FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE PASSED BEFORE MY ADMINISTRATION AND THE ADMINISTRATION. HE WORKED IN FOOD TRUCKS WERE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU OPERATE IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH, YOU HAVE TO DO IT SAFELY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE THE TAX, THE THE LICENSING AND EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE THE OTHER BUSINESSES WHO OPERATE. AND THAT’S THAT FALLS ON PLANNING AND ZONING TO DO THAT. HOW MANY TIMES AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PATRONIZED FOOD TRUCKS IN THEIR PARISH? GO AHEAD. YOU CAN ANSWER THAT IF YOU’D LIKE TO. I PATRONIZED FOOD TRUCKS ALL THE TIME. I PATRONIZE ALL THE BUSINESSES IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH, ALL 30S HERE. I WISH WE COULD HAVE MORE. IT’S GOING TO BE THE FINAL QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF IS ELECTED. HE CONTROLS LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT IN 30S, HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH THE SHERIFF IF YOU’RE ELECTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CRIME STAYS OUT OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH? TRAVIS I HAVE A 30 YEAR, ALMOST 30 YEAR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. I UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE A UNIQUE PARISH. SAINT CHARLES PARISH IS A PARISH THAT THRIVES CONTINUOUSLY. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PARISH GOVERNMENT DOESN’T REALIZE THAT THAT THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SORT OF STAY IN OUR LANES AND REALIZE THAT IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAY TOGETHER. WE CAN DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS WORKING WITH UNIFIED PLACES LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. 30S MR. JEWEL, I HATE TO CUT IT DOWN TO 30S, BUT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PLAN IF REELECTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF TO KEEP CRIME OUT OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH? I HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SHERIFF, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OUR JUDGES. SO WE’LL WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT CRIME AND AND KEEP SAINT CHARLES A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. I WISH WE COULD TALK MORE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. LIKE I SAID, WE COULD PROBABLY SPEND THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTES ON ONE OF THESE ISSUES IN PARTICULAR, ESPECIALLY IDA RECOVERY. BUT WE DON’T HAVE ANY MORE TIME, UNFORTUNATELY. SO WE’RE GOING TO DO CLOSING STATEMENTS. MISTER LAGRANGE, YOU HAVE 30S TO START US OFF SINCE MISTER JEWEL STARTED US OFF LAST TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, TRAVIS AND WDSU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF SAINT CHARLES PARISH HAS BEEN UNQUESTIONABLE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ONCE AGAIN TO PUT PEOPLE AND THE PARISH IN THE BEST POSITION THAT WE CAN. AND I PLEDGE TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE S AND TRUST IN THE PARISH PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. UNDERSTAND? AND WE WANT TO BRING SAINT CHARLES PARISH BACK TO THE CORNERSTONE THAT IT IS, AS OPPOSED TO BEING A STEPPING STONE THAT OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED. ALL RIGHT, MR. JEWEL, YOU’RE THE INCUMBENT. YOU CAN WRAP US UP. YOU HAVE 30S TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT. THANK YOU, TRAVIS. AND AGAIN, WHEN I RAN, I PLEDGED TO THE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIVE, THAT I WOULD SERVE WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY AND THAT I WOULD DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE. I’M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GO AFTER OUR NEGLECTED CANALS. WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO TO IMPROVE OUR DRAINAGE. WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR RECREATION. WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS WHILE BEING FISCALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. I CAN I PLEDGE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THERE’S MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO BACKWARDS. ALL RIGHT, MATTHEW, JEWEL, DWAYNE LAGRANGE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ELECTION IS OBVIOUSLY COMING UP IN OCTOBER. THAT IS ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR THE HOT SEAT. YOU CAN SEE THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT STARTING ONLINE ON MONDAY ON