Press Release

Police Jury Association of Louisiana

-February 28, 2006-

Police Jury Association of Louisiana’s

84^th Annual Convention a Success

Fulton sworn in as new President

Alexandria, LA—More than 1,000 federal, state and local government officials gathered for the 84^th Annual Police Jury Association Convention. This year’s event was held in Rapides Parish at the Alexandria Convention Center from February21-23, 2008. Attendees were given Congressional and state updates on a variety of issues. They also visited with over 100 interest groups related to the day-to-day operations of parish government.

U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain and Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham addressed the local government leaders during the three-day convention held in downtown Alexandria. Also in attendance were past Police Jury Presidents Bob Manuel of Evangeline and Red Higginbotham of St. Martin.

The convention was a special time for outgoing President Richard Billings, as he hosted the convention in his home parish of Rapides. During the Saturday night banquet Billings passed the gavel to incoming President Sam Fulton of the Vernon Parish Police Jury.

“With a new Governor and Legislature, it is vital they know, understand and address local government issues. We look forward to working with them in a cooperative spirit,” says Fulton.

Topics of conversation ranged from local government financing, ethics, 2010 Census, highway funding, tourism, emergency preparedness, drainage and the current and upcoming session of the Legislature.

Other officers installed at the annual banquet included 1^st Vice President Sandy Treme’ of Calcasieu Parish, 2^nd Vice President Carl A. Pierson, Sr., of Caddo Parish and 3^rd Vice President Paul Naquin of St. Mary Parish. Other executive board members sworn in include Orleans’ Cynthia Willard-Lewis, Jefferson’s John Young, St. Martin’s Mike Huval and Lisa Nelson, Bossier’s Bill Altimus, Caldwell’s Kenneth Graham, Tangipahoa’s Gordon Burgess, Calcasieu’s Francis Andrepont, Vernon’s Melvin Haymon, Beauregard’s Gerard “Mike” McLeod, Caddo’s David Cox, Iberia’s Bernard Broussard and Rapides’ Scott Perry, Jr. Also included on the executive board are past presidents including immediate past president Richard Billings, Red Higginbotham of St. Martin and Bob Manuel of Evangeline. Charlette Poche’ of Terrebonne was elected as the new President of the Organization of Parish Administrative Officials and Dennis Woodward of Lincoln as the new President of the Louisiana Parish Engineers and Supervisor’s Association.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .