St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission Director Herman Fuselier asked the Parish Council to give someone from Eunice priority when filling a vacancy on the commission.
With former director Celeste Gomez by his side at Thursday’s Administrative-Finance Committee meeting, Fuselier requested special consideration be given to applicants from Eunice.
Fuselier said traditionally the tourism commission has had at least two members from Eunice and two from Opelousas.
“I know it depends on the applicants and the luck of the draw,” he said.
The Parish Council is scheduled to fill a vacancy on the tourism panel at it regular meeting on Jan. 15.
A vacancy was created when Wil Giron Jr. of Opelousas resigned.
Council Clerk Sherell Jordan identified two applicants for the commissions seat as Delita Rubin-Broussard, of Opelousas, and David Manuel, of Eunice. Jordan said she is not allowed to give out any other information about the applicants.
Gomez, who retired in 2019 as tourism director, read a portion of the legislation creating tourism commissions that stated, “Unless provided in any local, special, or general law for a particular commission, appointments shall be made from lists of nominees submitted to the governing authority or authorities by private, non-profit groups that have an interest in one or more aspects of the tourism industry...”
The Parish Council advertises for applicants.
The legal counsel was not asked for an opinion as to whether the process of seeking applicants through advertising meets those mandated by state legislation.
Gomez said, “I think we need to focus on that word nonprofit groups that have an interest in one or more aspects of the tourism industry.”
Parish Council Chairman Jerry Red said the latest appointee to the commission, Sylvia Guidry-Brown, is from rural Opelousas.
Red said the person coming off the commission, Giron, is from Opelousas.
“It should be replaced back by a person of Opelousas,” Red said.
“I understand you would like to get Eunice represented more, but if Opelousas had a representative already sitting on the board, I don’t see a problem with Opelousas, Port Barre, Eunice, Krotz Springs, wherever they come from as long as they serve. It shouldn’t have to be Eunice versus Opelousas just as long as that person is serving for the betterment of St. Landry Parish,” Red said.
Gomez said the last vacancy occurred with a seat filled by someone from Eunice and it was filled by someone from Opelousas. The seat had been filled by Suzanne LaHaye of Eunice and after she died it was filled by Guidry-Brown.
Parish Council member Coby Clavier of Eunice made the same point.
Other commission members are Lynn Lejeune, of Eunice, and Port of Krotz Springs director; Mary Doucet, of Opelousas; John Slaughter, Grand Coteau; Yvonne Normand, Opelousas; and Ginger Lecompte, Arnaudville.
