Council President “Dee” Richard To Run For State Rep
(Thibodaux, La.)  Thibodaux City Council President Jerome “Dee” Richard issued the following statement.

The State of Louisiana is at a critical juncture in its rich and diverse history, a point where experience, knowledge and commitment are crucial to the future of the state and her residents. It is vital that the State Legislature have people that can provide leadership and an understanding of the numerous issues related to the successful operation of state government.

After much deliberation with my family and friends, I take great pride in announcing my candidacy for the Louisiana House of Representatives District 55 seat, which will be vacated by the term-limited Warren Triche. Warren has dutifully served this area for the last twenty years in the state legislature; and, after much consideration, I feel that it is an opportune time for me to step forward and continue the service Warren provided to this area.

I believe that I have what it takes to represent the people of District 55.  I am confident that I have proven myself as a dedicated public servant through my years as a member of the Lafourche Parish School Board (ten years) and as a current eight-year Councilman-at-Large for the City of Thibodaux. In addition, I have over twenty years of business experience; and, it is my belief that my years in private industry and government service provide me a well-rounded understanding of business and government operations. With this in mind, I will aggressively seek the House of Representatives District 55 seat using a grass-roots campaign, going from one community to the other asking for your support and vote.


As your representative, your concerns will be very important to me, and I will face every issue with determination to do what's best for our entire area. In a post-Katrina and post-Rita Louisiana, I can think of no issues that are more important than those related to coastal restoration and hurricane protection. Every day that passes without putting more dirt between us and the Gulf of Mexico brings us closer to more flooding, saltwater intrusion, and environmental devastation. Additionally, the state must address the deficiencies in education, workforce development, and healthcare. I believe that these issues are inter-connected and should be a major focus of the state legislature. Furthermore, I believe that Nicholls State University should be properly funded by the state to facilitate our focus on these issues. I offer my services to you as well as my word that I will do my best to help improve the quality of life for all of our residents and to work for a safer and united community for all.

I thank God for the ability he has given me to have served in public office and for the freedom to make the choice to serve. We all need to be thankful for the men and women whom have chosen to serve our country both home and abroad to help guarantee us the freedom that we enjoy and share. My commitment to you is to serve with integrity and to be your representative for this area in the state legislature. I am proud to say that my parents were raised in Lafourche Parish (the late Paul E. Richard and Dorris Roux Richard) and that I am a lifelong resident of the city of Thibodaux. I am a graduate of the public school system and am a 1978 graduate of Louisiana State University.  I look forward to the task at hand, and I ask for your support and vote for State Representative, District 55, on October 20, 2007.