Jerome “Dee” Richard

 Public service has been a mainstay of Jerome “Dee” Richard’s life.    As a child, his parents, the late Paul E. Richard of the St. Charles Community and Doris Roux Richard of Lockport, instilled Dee with a deep conservative trait of helping his fellow man.  This has remained as part of his core beliefs, and he has lived his life in such a manner.  

Although his parents were from rural areas of Lafourche Parish, Mr. Richard moved to Thibodaux , where Dee and his siblings were born.  Dee was born on March 27, 1955, and shared a house with six other siblings:  Veronica “Ronnie” Caillouet; Alfred; Paulette R. Rodrigue; Marcel R. Webre; Gregory; and James.  

Following his graduation from Thibodaux High School in 1973, Dee attended Nicholls State University for one year then transferred to LSU in Baton Rouge.  He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education.  This laid the foundation for Dee’s future in the private sector.  

Entering the job force in the early 1980’s, Dee began teaching in a local school then entered the petro-chemical industry.  During the mid-80’s oil field bust, Dee experienced a very tough economic time, similar to his family and friends.  Seeing the economic devastation all around him, Dee swore to himself that if he was ever in a position to do something to prevent this from ever happening again, he would without any hesitation.  He has worked for Capital Valve and Fitting in Baton Rouge for several years.  He currently is employed as a territory manager for Curtiss Wright-Groquip and travels the area meeting with clients.  His ability to speak with people and serve their needs provides him great experience in negotiation, business development and personal skills.  

Dee has a beautiful daughter, Victoria, who was born in 1995. Dee’s relationship with his daughter continues to be a source of pride for him, and he constantly encourages her to strive to make a positive impact on this community, irrespective of her young age.  

An unexpired four-year term on the Lafourche Parish School Board led to Dee’s initial involvement in government in 1982.  He ran for office and successfully filled the vacancy until 1984.  After moving from one part of the City of Thibodaux to another, Dee then successfully ran again two years later in 1986 to serve a full four-year term.  In 1990, Dee was re-elected for a second time, and he finished his service on the School Board in 1994; however, his desire to serve the public was strong and his thirst, unquenchable.  Having been out of public office for four years, Dee ran for the councilman at large seat on the Thibodaux City Council in 1998.  He won his election, and he is now in his third term as city councilman at large.  He is currently serving as President of the Thibodaux City council.  

During his years in public office, whether as a member of the Lafourche Parish School Board or as a member of the Thibodaux City Council, Dee has always enjoyed representing his constituents.  From fighting for teacher raises and other teacher-related issues to pushing for improvements in the city’s roads and underground utility systems, Dee remains committed to putting the people first.  He is proud of role in restoring credibility to the city council and enlarging the corporate limits of Thibodaux .  He has met with state and federal officials to ensure that his constituents are given every opportunity to benefit from new programs and projects and to voice their concerns about the future.  

His decision to run for the Louisiana House Representative District 55 seat came after much discernment and thought.  With the support of his family and friends, Dee decided to seek the seat being vacated by Warren Triche, who has served his district well over the last decade and is term-limited.  Dee is confident that his past experiences in the private sector and in the public service as a Lafourche Parish School Board member and a Thibodaux City Council provides him with a well-rounded background to serve as the next District 55 Representative.  

As representative, Dee is going to use his position to address several major issues that are important to the residents of District 55.  For example, he realizes the importance of coastal restoration and hurricane protection programs, such as the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project.  He will fight to implement projects that enhance this area’s ability to be safe from the dangers of hurricanes and floods.  This includes improvements to the area’s infrastructure, including better highways, levees, and drainage projects.  This commitment to saving the state’s coast is not mutually exclusive from oil and gas production.  Dee believes that the two can work hand-in-hand to provide high-paying jobs and keeping the waters of the Gulf at bay.   

His days on the parish school board provide him the experience needed to initiate improvements to the state’s education system.  This would include improving the test scores of students, providing teachers with better pay and providing training for workers.  Dee realizes the importance that education has on the future of this state.  He, also, will address the retirement system for all state employees.  

He will continue the fight that Representative Triche initiated in making Nicholls State University a stronger institution, whose impact on the region is critical to the success and growth of the area.  Dee will, also, seek to push for improvements to the state’s health care system, maintaining that a healthy community leads to a healthy life!  

As Dee prepares himself for his campaign, he is confident that voters will agree that he is the most-qualified candidate in the race.  As he recently said, “I humbly ask for the vote of the people of District 55.  My commitment remains strong and aggressive, and I will do everything in my ability to provide a strong voice for the people of this area.”