Glen E. Howie will assume the duties of general counsel for the Acadia Parish Police Jury.
During a special meeting, jurors unanimously approved the appointment of Howie to replace Brad Andrus, who resigned that position last month.
Jurors Chuck Broussard and Robert Guidry were not present.
Howie has been a sole practitioner attorney in Crowley since October, 1995. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Louisiana Tech in Ruston in 1979 and his juris doctor from LSU Law Center in Baton Rouge in 1995.
Howie also holds a Master of Divinity Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as bi-vocational pastor at Mowata Baptist Church since September, 1997; was pastor of First Baptist Church of Crowley from April, 1989, through August, 1992; and was BSU Director at LSU-E from Jan. 1, 1984, through March, 1989.
Howie admitted to jurors that he is “not really experienced in governmental law” but promised he “will get up to speed” quickly.
The Crowley attorney told jurors that he is apolitical and that his advice to the jury will be based on law.
“I’m not going to shoot from the hip,” he said. “I’m a research guy.”
The parish will be billed $125 per hour for work performed for the jury with the exception of litigation matters, for whichthe charge is $150 per hour.
He will bill the jury in increments of 0.1 hour.
Howie acknowledged that the jury already has an attorney for litigation matters in Doug Wimberly and said he is willing to work with Wimberly if asked to do so.
In other action, the jury voted unanimously to hire Stuart Consulting Group in regards to disasters and FEMA fund recovery.