Breaux Bridge Councilman Thibodeaux stepping down

The campaign for mayor here has seemingly gone underground after a round of high-profile forums, but things are moving and shaking elsewhere on the ballot.
Longtime City Councilman Terry Thibodeaux announced at last week’s council meeting that he will not be running for reelection this fall.
Thibodeaux cited an increased workload at his “day job,” Atmos Energy, as the reason for his decision not to run for reelection.
He said it was not an easy decision, but rather one made after considerable deliberation. And he wished the best of luck to his successor.
So far, the only other person running for the District A seat is Brenda Hobbs, businesswoman and community activist. Qualifying for the Nov. 4 election doesn’t open until Aug. 20-22.
In 2002, Thibodeaux ran unopposed for the seat, which had been vacated by Mark Robicheaux. Thibodeaux was also unopposed in two subsequent elections.
At the same City Council meeting, Morgan City attorney Anthony Thibodeaux, a resident of the Ruth area, said he is breaking the tradition of white judges being elected without opposition by opposing New Iberia attorney Dean Wattigny’s bid for his brother Gerard B. Wattigny’s seat on the 16th Judicial District bench. Judge Wattigny is retiring.
“The people should be selecting their judges, not the political bosses,” he said. “That’s going to change. I’m forcing an election.”
Thibodeaux charged that uncontested elections are de rigueur in Section 2 of the 16th JDC, which are the six district judgeships elected at-large in the three-parish area of St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary. That is not the case, he said, in Section 1, the two judges elected in a special district carved out of the three parishes and designed to favor black candidates.
Proving that point, at least, on the agenda last week were judicial candidates for the two “black seats” on the 16th JDC bench. Vying for the Division G seat being vacated by retiring Judge Charles Porter are Lucretia Pecantte and Curtis Sigur, and challenging incumbent Judge Lori Landry of Division H (not present at last week’s meeting) is Alicia Johnson Butler.
Dean Wattigny was also on hand to introduce himself as a candidate for the Division A seat.
There were two well-attended public forums, sponsored by different civic groups, in May showcasing the two announced candidates thus far, former City Councilman Ricky Calais and Jill Hebert, a member of the St. Martin Parish Council. The campaigns have been low-key ever since.
Also on the ballot is the office of Breaux Bridge chief of police, with incumbent P.J. Hebert being challenged by former BBPD Assistant Chief Rollie Cantu.
Early voting will be Oct. 21-28 for the Tuesday, Nov. 4, election. A runoff, if needed, will be on Saturday, Dec. 6.