Gov. Edwards appoints St. Landry Parish residents to boards, commissions

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Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions on Jan. 13.

Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District
The Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District provides a source of fresh water from the Mississippi River into Bayou Lafourche primarily for drinking water purposes. The district maintains the Bayou Lafourche waterway to clear any obstructions that may restrict the flow of water.

Jacob A. “Jake” Giardina, of Thibodaux, was reappointed to the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District. Prior to retiring in 2000, Mr. Giardina served as president and CEO of Cameco Industries. As required by statute, he was nominated by a legislator and will serve as a representative of Lafourche Parish.

Hugh F. Caffery, of Lockport, was reappointed to the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District. Mr. Caffery is the general manager of Valentine Chemicals, LLC. As required by statute, he was nominated by a legislator and will serve as a representative of Lafourche Parish.

Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority
The Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority serves to address a serious lack of capital and credit available for investment in agriculture, for domestic and export purposes, at interest rates within the financial means of persons engaged in agricultural production and export.

Ronald W. Petree, of Welsh, was appointed to the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority. Mr. Petree is the senior vice-president and western division leader of St. Martin Bank and Trust Company. He was nominated by the Louisiana Bankers Association, formerly the Community Bankers of Louisiana.

Katie R. Sistrunk, of White Castle, was appointed to the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority. Ms. Sistrunk is the manager of Ramagos Farms, Inc., a family sugarcane farm. As required by statute, she was nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

State Licensing Board for Contractors
The purpose of the State Licensing Board of Contractors is the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of citizens dealing with persons engaged in the contracting vocation, and affording citizens an effective and practical protection against incompetent, inexperienced, unlawful, and fraudulent acts of contractors with whom they contract. The Board also monitors construction projects to ensure compliance with the statutory and regulatory licensure requirements.

Lloyd J. “Chip” Badeaux, of Thibodaux, was reappointed to the State Licensing Board for Contractors. Mr. Badeaux is the owner of Paint Perfect. He will serve as an at-large member on the board.

Louisiana Tax Commission
The Louisiana Tax Commission is responsible for administering and enforcing laws related to local property tax, assessed values of all bank stock and insurance company premiums, and public service property assessments. The commission is charged with the responsibility of formulating and implementing a system that ensures uniformity of tax assessments throughout all parishes of the state.

Paul T. West, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Louisiana Tax Commission. Mr. West is the vice president of Chester Engineers. He will represent the 3rd Public Service Commission District.

Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel
The Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel was created to determine which risks and hazards related to medical care and surgical procedures must be disclosed by a physician or other health care provider to a patient or person authorized to consent for a patient and to establish the general form and substance of such disclosure.

Reinhold Munker, M.D., of Shreveport, was appointed to the Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel. Dr. Munker is a professor of medicine with Tulane School of Medicine. He is also an attending physician in the Hematology and Oncology section of Tulane University Medical Center. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana State Medical Society.

Benjamin P. Mouton, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel. Mr. Mouton is an attorney and partner at McGlynn, Glisson & Mouton. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Association for Justice and will serve as an attorney member on the panel.

Scott D. Webre, of Lafayette, was appointed to the Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel. Mr. Webre is an attorney and the president and owner of Webre and Associates. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Association for Justice and will serve as an attorney member on the panel.

Health Education Authority of Louisiana
The Health Education Authority of Louisiana (HEAL) is an independent bonding authority formed to promote medical and/or health education activities of various public and private organizations in Louisiana.

Kenya F. Ellis, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Health Education Authority of Louisiana. Ms. Ellis is an attorney with AllState Insurance Company. She will serve as an at-large representative on the board.

David W. Groner, of New Iberia, was appointed to the Health Education Authority of Louisiana. Mr. Groner is an attorney and the president of David Groner, PLC. He will serve as a representative of the 4th Public Service Commission District on the board.

Jeremy C. L. Babers, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Health Education Authority of Louisiana. Mr. Babers is an attorney and the owner of The Law Office of Jeremy Babers. He will serve as a representative of the 5th Public Service Commission District.

State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers
The State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers is charged with protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state by prohibiting the practice of “interior design” by nonlicensed persons, establishing rules and criteria for licensing, and prescribing penalties for violations.

Deborah S. Steinmetz, of New Orleans, was reappointed to the State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers. Ms. Steinmetz is a licensed interior designer and principal at Steinmetz & Associates. As required by statute, she was nominated by and will serve as a representative of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Karen F. Hazel, of Ball, was reappointed to the State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers. Ms. Ball is a licensed interior designer and an estimator with Bayou Rapides Corporation. She will serve as a representative of registered or licensed interior designers.

Carolyn Snow Sawyer, of Pineville, was reappointed to the State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers. Ms. Sawyer is a licensed interior designer and the owner of Carolyn Sawyer Designs, LLC. As required by statute, she was nominated by and will serve as a representative of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Louisiana Sentencing Commission
The Louisiana Sentencing Commission serves to develop felony sentencing guidelines that ensure similarly situated offenders are treated similarly and that the penalties imposed are proportionate to the crime committed. Additionally, an examination of the statues and policies related to sentencing is done to relate those provisions and other laws to the use of correctional programming designed to facilitate offender re-entry.

Jay B. McCallum, of Farmerville, was reappointed to the Louisiana Sentencing Commission. Judge McCallum is a judge for the 3rd Judicial District Court and will serve as a district court judge on the commission.

Louis R. Daniel, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Sentencing Commission. Judge Daniel is a judge for the 19th Judicial District Court and will serve as a district court judge with criminal justice experience on the commission.

Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board
The Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board serves to determine policy for the Louisiana Tumor Registry and distribute state funds for cancer research.

Augusto C. Ochoa, M.D., of New Orleans, was reappointed to the Louisiana Cancer and Lung Trust Fund Board. Dr. Ochoa is the director of the Cancer Center and a professor of pediatrics at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans. As required by statute, he was nominated by and will serve as a representative of the LSU Medical School in New Orleans.

Lafitte Area Independent Levee District
The purpose of the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District is to build and maintain levees around Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point.

Dena C. Frickey, of Lafitte, was reappointed to the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District. Ms. Frickey is a professor of mathematics at Delgado Community College. As required by statute, she was nominated by a legislator representing an area within the district.

Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board
The Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board provides information and recommendations from the perspective of advocacy groups, service providers, and parents to the Children’s Cabinet.

Jessica M. “Jesse” Hartley, of Covington, was reappointed to the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board. Ms. Hartley is the state director of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana and will serve as its representative on the board.

Annette L. Frugé, of Opelousas, was appointed to the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board. Ms. Frugé works in data entry for Families Helping Families of Acadiana. She will serve as a parent representative on the board.

Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board
The Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board was created to promote the growth and development of the soybean, wheat, corn, and grain sorghum industries in Louisiana. Assessments collected on these grains at the first point of sale by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry are remitted to the Board to conduct programs of research and promotion. The Board also participates in federal check off programs for soybeans and grain sorghum.

Carlos D. Polotzola, of Melville, was reappointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Polotzola is a self-employed farmer. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation to serve as a representative of the soybean industry.

Glen R. Brown, of Lake Providence, was appointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Brown is a farmer and partner with Panola Farming Partnership. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Cotton & Grain Association to serve as a representative of the wheat, corn, or grain sorghum industries.

Scott M. Wiggers Jr., of Winnsboro, was appointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Wiggers is a farmer and partner with Wiggers Farm Partnership. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation to serve as a representative of the soybean industry.

B. Dan Turner, of Mer Rouge, was reappointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Turner is a farmer and owner of Turner Brother Farms. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Cotton & Grain Association to serve as a representative of the wheat, corn, or grain sorghum industries.

Thomas K. “Kim” Frey, of Eunice, was appointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Frey is a farmer and the owner of Frey Farms. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation to serve as a representative of the soybean industry.

Charles J. Cannatella, of Melville, was reappointed to the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. Mr. Cannatella is a farmer and the owner and chief executive officer of Cannatella Outdoor Farms, LLC. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Soybean Association to serve as a representative of the soybean industry.

State Civil Service Commission
The State Civil Service Commission is a seven-member body that has final authority over the administration of the State Civil Service system. The Commission serves as an impartial review board that enacts and adjudicates State Civil Service Rules to regulate state personnel activities and hears appeals from state employees and agencies.

G. Lee Griffin, of Baton Rouge, was reappointed to the State Civil Service Commission. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Griffin served as chief executive officer of Chase Bank and the LSU Foundation. As required by statute, Mr. Griffin was nominated by Tulane University and will serve as a representative of the 6th Congressional District.

D. Scott Hughes, of Shreveport, was reappointed to the State Civil Service Commission. Mr. Hughes is the chief executive officer of the Northwest Louisiana Association of Realtors. As required by statute, he was nominated by Centenary College and will serve as a representative of the 4th Congressional District.

Louisiana Cemetery Board
The Louisiana Cemetery Board serves to license non-exempt and exempt cemeteries; monitor and review perpetual care and merchandise trust funds through yearly reporting requirements; approve pre-development applications for cemeteries; and conduct on-site examinations (audits) of cemeteries and other entities with perpetual care and merchandise trust funds. The board also investigates consumer complaints and concerns.

Shelton C. Dixon, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Louisiana Cemetery Board. Rev. Dixon is the Pastor of the Greater Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and will serve as an at-large member on the board.

Marilyn P. Leufroy, of Morganza, was reappointed to the Louisiana Cemetery Board. Ms. Leufroy is a compliance officer in the equal opportunity section of the Office of the Attorney General and will serve as an at-large member on the board.