INDReporter

Garber to make his Sheriff 2015 bid official next week

by Patrick Flanagan

With his event next week, attorney Mark Garber will join Scott Police Chief Chad Leger as the only candidates — at least so far — to hold a press conference officially announcing their bid to become Lafayette Parish's next sheriff.

Another candidate for sheriff of Lafayette Parish will soon make his election bid official with a press conference set for next week.

With next week's event, Garber will have joined Scott Police Chief Chad Leger as the only candidates — at least so far — to hold official press conferences announcing their bids for sheriff. Yet, based on Facebook, we know that Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputy John P. Rogers is also among the potential list of sheriff 2015 candidates.

Mark T. Garber

In a press release issued Wednesday, Mark Garber is set to make his candidacy announcement for sheriff at Zea’s Rotisserie Grill at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Garber is a former police officer and counterintelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force who, according to his release, conducted over 300 interrogations of “known members of Al Qaeda and other insurgent groups during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006.” He also worked as a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service before entering the legal field.

Garber now practices law in Lafayette. He’s also a former assistant district attorney with the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and was on the prosecution team for the ongoing first-degree murder case against Seth Fontenot.

From a statement included in Tuesday’s release, here’s why Garber says he’s running:

The families of Lafayette Parish expect and deserve the highest level of law enforcement. My education, experience in both local and federal law enforcement, and time spent as a felony prosecutor make me the most qualified candidate to continue providing and to improve upon that high level of law enforcement Lafayette Parish has received for the past fifteen years under Sheriff Neustrom.

Go here for more on this race to replace longtime Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom after he opted against another reelection bid earlier this year.