LAFAYETTE, La. — Five candidates are seeking election to the District 1 seat on the new Lafayette City Council: John Ford, Patrick "Pat" Lewis, Mark Pope, Sarah Gauthier Roy and Matthew Sias, Jr. All of the candidates are registered Democrats, except for Mark Pope who is registered as a Republican.
Lafayette voters decided last year to de-consolidate the Lafayette City-Parish Council. Now everyone in the parish will vote on a new parish council member, and people living in the city limits will vote on both a parish council member and a city council member. If you want to know what districts you are in, check your ballot by clicking here .
If you want to see a map of the districts, CLICK HERE.
JOHN FORD
(Democrat - #120)
John Ford's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/fordforcitycouncil
John Ford's website:
http://www.fordcitycouncil.com
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself in five sentences – who are you and what’s your background?
I am a businessman with a serial entrepreneurial spirit. I also have 20 plus years as a servant in my community. And I believe it Is time for new leadership.
2. Why do you want to run for office?
To support the Lafayette quality of life and to invest in District 1's future and to make our Downtown strong and aspiring for all its citizens.
3. What issue is the most important for you to tackle in your district?
Crime and poverty are my #1 concerns, along with providing services to our elderly and children.
4. What distinguishes you from other candidates?
My wisdom! And I embody the bold energetic, vibrant leadership that District 1 needs.
PATRICK "PAT" LEWIS
(Democrat - #121)
Pat Lewis' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/electpatlewis
Pat Lewis' website:
https://www.lafayettela.gov/Council/Pages/District-3.aspx
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself in five sentences – who are you and what’s your background?
Patrick “Pat” Lewis is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and was raised, educated and married in District 3. Pat is married to the former Tracy Mouton and is the father of two children and grandfather of one grandson. He is a graduate of Lafayette High School and USL. His two children received degrees from the same university, now ULL, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
2. Why do you want to run for office?
As a businessman, Pat Lewis has excelled in numerous business endeavors creating jobs and opportunities for the community by bringing services and housing to residents of District 3. He was previously employed in the banking industry for 14 years. Pat Lewis retired from the Lafayette Parish School system with 26 years of service where he was employed for 18 years in the Transportation Department and spent the remainder as an auditor in the Sales Tax Department.
3. What issue is the most important for you to tackle in your district?
Pat Lewis understands that being an effective City-Parish Councilman involves listening to the needs of constituents and business owners within the district. He aims to shift their concerns into workable proposals as he builds unity within the City-Parish Council to implement change. He is solidly committed to striking a cohesive balance in District 3. Pat Lewis wants the people of District 3 to know that his elected seat on the council does not belong to him – it belongs to those who reside in District 3. These are the people he represents and he does this wholeheartedly.
4. What distinguishes you from other candidates?
Pat continues to unite the community with the slogan “We Can Do Better Together” and believes that all residents of District 3 can have a role in shaping the future of where they live and work to provide a better quality of life.
MARK POPE
(Republican - #122)
Mark Pope's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037218601904
Mark Pope's website:
http://markpopeforcouncil.com
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself in five sentences – who are you and what’s your background?
I'm Mark Pope, and I am in no way related to Brian Pope (as hundreds of people have asked). I am a life-long Lafayette resident and I have a master's degree in Public Relations from UL. I worked for LCG for 27 years in the Environmental Division (retired three years ago), and my last 11 years I served as Environmental Manager. During my 27 year career I solved problems for 15,000 Lafayette residents, and as Environmental Manager I cut my budget while improving services to the people I served. I implemented many common-sense environmental programs during my career, and I was proud and honored to have been able to serve Lafayette citizens during my government tenure -- I was not the stereotypical "government employee" -- and I challenged the bureaucratic system for my entire career.
2. Why do you want to run for office?
I'm running for Lafayette City Council District 1 because we currently have an intellectually lazy council, which collectively does not study the complex issues of Lafayette government. The current council does not ask tough questions about "unintended consequences" of certain votes; they simply "go-along-to-get-along" with most of the issues they vote on. The current council is not properly prioritizing spending of tax-payer dollars, which results in poor decisions, and citizens end up with "half-baked," ineffective local government. We can and must do better with spending tax dollars on basic services such as drainage, roads, and bridges, thereby ensuring open, honest, cost-effective government -- The People deserve nothing less, and that is what I will provide once elected to the council.
3. What issue is the most important for you to tackle in your district?
The most important issue in City District 1 is to revitalize the Northside of Lafayette. This means doing clean-ups of vacant buildings and lots on the north side; it means finding investors to "re-purpose" commercial buildings that have been vacant for far too long. I will lead from the front in organizing periodic clean-ups of streets, buildings, and empty lots; high school clubs, church groups, and Boys & Girls Clubs will be recruited to participate in clean-ups. Once pride and ownership of the north side is reinvigorated, investors will be inspired to want to assist north side residents and businesses with their rekindled "pride of ownership."
4. What distinguishes you from other candidates?
My proven record and passion for public service over my 27-year LCG career sets me apart from my four opponents. I have more experience and knowledge of the LCG system than all four of my opponents combined. During my 11 year tenure as Environmental Manager, I oversaw a $15 million budget. I cut my budget as Environmental Manager, while also improving services. Over my entire 27 year career in the LCG Environmental Division, I organized many programs for citizens, and those programs are still popular in 2019. I will be an active, full-time Representative for the constituents of City District #1. A true Representative listens to his constituents before voting on issues, and is actively involved in all aspects of his district. I will actively listen to my constituents, and I will be the most active, hands-on council member Lafayette has ever seen.
SARAH GAUTHIER ROY
(Democrat - #123)
Sarah Gauthier Roy's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/sarahgauthierroy
Sarah Gauthier Roy's website:
https://www.sarahgauthierroy.com
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself in five sentences – who are you and what’s your background?
I was born and raised in Carencro, graduated from Carencro High School and UL Lafayette. I am a mother of three and a teacher in Lafayette Parish Public Schools’ Talented program. I am the founder and artistic director of Theatre Acadie, a community cultural arts company, and have taught classes and summer camps focusing on culture through the arts, as well as starting an intergenerational arts initiative to bring children and the elderly together through arts workshops. I volunteer with multiple organizations and at a graduate of Leadership Lafayette.
2. Why do you want to run for office?
Through my work and play in Lafayette, my experience in the Leadership Lafayette Program, and time spent watching the work of the council, I felt that the skills I have in organization, creative problem solving, and collaboration make me a perfect candidate for city government
3. What issue is the most important for you to tackle in your district?
Poverty. Many issues like crime, poor schools, blight, and economic growth are all causes and effects of being the area with the lowest household income.
4. What distinguishes you from other candidates?
I have and will continue to put in the work, search for the solutions, and implement them. The work I have done this far should show the voters that I have the skills to make the positive changes that we need and deserve.
MATTHEW SIAS, JR.
(Democrat - #124)
Matthew Sias' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Matthew-Sias-Jr-Lafayette-City-Council-District-1-Candidate-1034176903448889
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself in five sentences – who are you and what’s your background?
I am a local business owner. I am a father of one. I am the director of a nonprofit called the Millennial Networking Group. I am a young aggressive entrepreneur with years of experience in sales and business management.
2. Why do you want to run for office?
I am running for Lafayette City Council District 1 to guarantee the district has a reliable, vocal, strong and trustworthy leader that is capable of effectively revitalizing a district faced with multiple issues.
3. What issue is the most important for you to tackle in your district?
District 1 is a culturally and economically diverse district that needs specific solutions to the different issues we face. Areas of the district need a focus on safety and economic development, while other parts of the district are dealing with flooding and poor drainage. We need to bring a balance to how we solve problems and be intentional in our efforts to make progress for the district.
4. What distinguishes you from other candidates?
What separates me is that most of my opponents claim to have been working in the community for years - some as much as 27 years - and my district is still struggling. As a non-political young man, I provide an efficient and balanced approach to the government. We need leaders who aren’t afraid to lead and be vocal in doing, so I’m that guy.
