The CPC is expected to begin interviewing candidates within two weeks.
With the noon Tuesday deadline having come and gone, the Lafayette City-Parish Council has 40 résumés submitted by Lafayette residents seeking a seat on the nine-member charter commission - 28 résumés from the city residents, 12 from residents living in unincorporated Lafayette Parish. According to CPC Clerk Norma Dugas, the next step is to verify the eligibility of the applicants.
The ordinance that created the commission stipulates that five members must be city of Lafayette residents, four must live in unincorporated Lafayette Parish and two commission members - one city, one unincorporated - must be members of a minority race. The council is expected to begin interviewing applicants in the next couple of weeks. The CPC will vote in unison on seven of the nine appointments - four city residents and three residents from the parish. City-Parish President Joey Durel will appoint the remaining two members - one city, one parish.
Some of the applicants' names are familiar in Lafayette's political and business circles; others are not. While eight minorities from the city submitted résumés, only one minority from the unincorporated parish applied. CPC Chairman Jay Castille says if that applicant doesn't qualify - applicants must be registered voters, and cannot be employed by or have a contractual relationship with Lafayette Consolidated Government - the council will reissue a call for résumés.
Overall, Castille says he's pleased with the names he's seen so far. "The names seem to be pretty good," he says. "I see a lot of good people in there, some knowledgeable people, some government knowledge. I think it's going to be a good group."
Following is a list of applicants who submitted résumés, along with their race/gender, district of residence and city or parish classification:
Lane Cortez WM District 7 City
Greg Gachassin WM District 8 City
William R. Thornton WM District 7 City
Craig Spikes WM District 7 City
Joseph Manning WM District 2 City
Odon L. Bacque WM District 4 City
Ernie Alexander WM District 7 City
Mike Hinson WM District 6 City
Clement Story III WM District 4 City
Rob Robison IV WM District 7 City
Donald Edward Suggs WM District 3 City
Andree Gonsoulin WF District 6 City
William P. McGovern WM District 7 City
Stephen J. Oats WM District 6 City
Kenneth L. Hix WM District 8 City
Lowell Duhon WM District 4 City
Bruce Conque WM District 6 City
Chad G. Hanks WM District 5 City
Snowden B. Grant BM District 2 City
Lisa W. Thomas BF District 2 City
Lloyd Rochon BM District 3 City
Jessica Cantave BF District 6 City
Markashia Brunco Brown BF District 4 City
Louis Lowry WM District 7 City
Aaron Walker BM District 2 City
Mike Stagg WM District 6 City
Donald W. Washington BM District 9 City
Gregory A. Davis BM District 2 City
Justin Gilmore WM District 1 Unincorporated
Greg Manuel WM District 8 Unincorporated
Cynthia J. Castille WF District 2 Unincorporated
Vance E. Lanier ` WM District 9 Unincorporated
Charley Hutchens WM District 8 Unincorporated
Donald E.Richard WM District 5 Unincorporated
Karen E. Carson WF District 9 Unincorporated
Sonya C. Benoit WF District 5 Unincorporated
Desmond Keith Miller BM District 1 Unincorporated
Kenneth Stansbury WM District 9 Unincorporated
Ed Abell WM District 9 Unincorporated
Ira Jane Romero WF District 9 Unincorporated