Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeannette Knoll (facing council members) administered the oath of office to Marksville’s mayor and aldermen prior to the July 11 City Council meeting. All municipal officials were re-elected to four-year terms that began July 1. Those sworn in were (from left) Frank Havard, Mike Gremillion, Mayor John Lemoine, Mary Sampson, Edward Conway and Clyde “Danny” Benson. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}
Marksville officials begin new terms
There were no new faces at the first Marksville City Council meeting of the new term of office. The same elected officials who stood and swore to uphold the constitutions of Louisiana and the United States were the same ones who stood there four years ago.
Mayor John Lemoine and Aldermen Frank Havard, Mike Gremillion, Mary Sampson, Edward Conway and Clyde Benson were dressed up more than usual and were in a good mood prior to the July 11 council meeting -- the first of the new budget year and the first of another four-year term.
Lemoine has said he does not plan to seek a fourth term as mayor when this one is over.
The five aldermen have not expressed their plans beyond the current term.
Jeannette Knoll, retired state Supreme Court justice from Marksville, was appointed by the Supreme Court with the judicial authority to administer the oaths of office to the municipal officials.
“I have the best of both worlds,” Knoll said. “I am retired and I have been given the judicial authority to swear you in tonight.”
Knoll briefly addressed the officials, speaking about the awesome responsibility of elected office and the honor she felt in being able to administer that oath.
She said she knows the hard work involved in deliberating with a multi-member body, having had to do that for 34 years as a 3rd Circuit and Supreme Court jurist. She was satisfied to just get a majority decision of those panels, and elated when a unanimous decision could be delivered.
While there are times when opinions differ and colleagues “can get testy,” Knoll said, “it is important to maintain professional conduct at all times. At the end of the day, we embrace the camaraderie” of the board.
Lemoine, Havard, Gremillion and Conway were re-elected without opposition in January when nobody qualified to oppose them in the March 24 election. Sampson and Benson defeated their challengers in the March 24 election.
There were no changes in department heads, city manager, city attorney, secretary/treasurer or city engineer.
Lemoine appointed Gremillion to be mayor pro-tem.
Benson thanked Lemoine for entrusting him with that responsibility for the past four years.