BELLE CHASSE, LA (AP) — A former parish councilman and school teacher won a runoff election to become the next parish president in Plaquemines.
The Advocate’s Chad Calder reports that Amos Cormier, Jr., defeated businessman Jerry Hodnett 56-44 percent Saturday in the runoff election.
A Republican from Belle Chasse, Cormier will replace Billy Nungesser.
Both Cormier and Hodnett are former parish councilmen who pledged to fight for lower insurance rates and coastal restoration and levee projects. They also said they would work to speed up the $111 million replacement of the Belle Chasse bridge and tunnel.
Cormier ran as an outsider while Hodnett pledged to improve the relationship between the president and the council.
Hodnett ran first in the primary, with 33 percent of the vote.
