The following questions were asked of each candidiate for Iberia Parish President. Here are the answers for Ernest Freyou exactly how they were received:

1. What are the three biggest issues facing Iberia Parish? What specifically should be done to address each?

Economic development, infrastructure and coastal flood protection.

Since I took office, the Iberia Economic Development Authority was created to promote Iberia Parish as a prime location for new businesses to locate and existing businesses to expand. With the Port of Iberia, Twin Parish Port, Airport and a proposed business park in the Acadiana Regional Airport area, we are positioned strongly with IEDA for the future.

Regarding infrastructure, we are making progress. Water District #4 was created to provide water to the areas along US 90 from Lewis Street to the St. Mary Parish line. Waterworks District #3 is continually improving water lines and installing new lines from Hwy. 88 to the St. Martin Parish line. We know rooftops will increase our tax base and provide for continued growth: consolidation of our permit office with a new “developer-friendly” attitude has assisted in that effort.

For coastal flooding, the Iberia Parish Levee, Hurricane and Conservation District was created, and preliminary layouts have already been drawn for a protective levee system, with funding sources being pursued. A grant program will fund current projects to create marshland.

2. Do you see a benefit in consolidation of parish and municipal government? Are there opportunities for Iberia and New Iberia to operate conjoined services? What are they and how would you propose it be done?

If done correctly, I believe carefully planned consolidation would be beneficial for all Iberia Parish residents. But only if the quality of a particular service would improve along with the associated costs for that service going down.

Several parish departments are already successfully consolidated, including Mosquito Control, Homeland Security/E-911, law enforcement and the operation of the Iberia Parish Correctional Facility. A more sweeping consolidation would require the vote of the people, as well as a massive restructuring of tax millages within the parish.

3. Turf wars have lead to increased legal fees paid from parish and city coffers. What would you do to improve relations and cooperation between city and parish governments?

During my administration, Iberia Parish Government has never sued any of the cities inside our parish.

As Parish President, you need to have solid working relationships with all administrations parish-wide, and even those in neighboring parishes. (We are currently working on a $5 million project with St. Martin Parish to alleviate flooding in the Bayou Portage Drainage Basin, which affects northern Iberia Parish.)

So we’ll continue to work openly and honestly with all administrations so we can complete necessary projects which benefit everyone, like sharing the cost of a drainage study with the City of New Iberia on Tete Bayou; completing miles of drainage canal from Jeanerette to the Delahoussaye Canal; securing $2.5 million for the Coteau Water System upgrades; completing sidewalks and drainage projects along Hwy 86 in Loreauville, and working with the City of New Iberia on restructuring the Lewis St./Admiral Doyle intersection for improved traffic flow.

4. Acadiana Regional Airport has been touted as an economic development jewel, yet in the years since the parish has had control over it, little development has been done. What specifically would you do to develop the ARA as a place ready for business development?

I disagree with the assessment that “little development” has occurred. Just since my election, K&J Supply and Norris International have built new operations at the Airport and Bristow, Aggreko, AVEX, Acadiana Plastics, Carbo Ceramics and Thomas Tools have completed millions of dollars in expansions, just to name a few. And the UL Primate Research Center is undergoing an expansion right now.

We’re also proactively trying to spur additional economic development at the site: the sewerage issue has been resolved, and engineering for the expansion of Hwy. 3212 to Hwy. 90 has been completed. This project will create a business park adjacent to airport property, resulting in rental revenue to support operations of the ARA.

Phase I of a project that will 4-lane Admiral Doyle from Ember Drive to Hwy. 88 has also been completed. Additionally, Iberia Parish Government invested at the ARA, with a brand new $2.5 million Mosquito Control facility that can double as an Emergency Operations Center.

5. What are your ideas of where parish government can get money to address its many needs, such as drainage, infrastructure and hurricane protection? Please be specific.

Iberia Parish is very sound financially. In the last three years, we were able to complete $17 million in road improvements parish-wide without a tax increase: I think that speaks to our stability.

We use sound business practices every day to maintain this position: things like lowering our bond rate to increase our investment yield. We do our best to be good stewards of your tax dollars!

As far as additional monies, we will be receiving significantly more severance tax revenue in the coming years thanks to the recent passage of a statewide constitutional amendment. Currently we receive about $900,000 each year: this figure will increase to a minimum of about $2.8 million. We will continue to pursue Federal and state funding, as well as BP settlement dollars that will be awarded in the coming years. My goal is and has always been to keep existing businesses, bring in new businesses and provide jobs that will keep our young people home here in Iberia Parish.