Mr. Peter Roker, this chap Emile Vidrine is a public figure. Here is a news article about him. He is written about last. This dates from 1995
Five seek first-ever mayor-president position
Jennifer Ann Brown - Contributing Writer
The candidates in the Lafayette mayor-president race have kept USL in mind in the upcoming election.
Lafayette Parish President Walter Comeaux, City Councilman Elmo Laborde, Jr., City Councilman F.V. "Pappy" Landry, Parish Councilman Ed Roy, and Emile Vidrine are the candidates vying for
the newly created position. All were interviewed for The Vermilion.
Comeaux, an 11-year veteran of the parish government system, said that he is concerned with what transpires at USL, that he has been there to help in the past and that he plans on helping in the future.
"I will work closer with the Cajundome commission, and the university," he said. "I understand the importance of all this. This means so much to our community. I am committed 100 percent in so far
as assisting USL, not so far as telling them how to run their business, but in being there when they need us."
Laborde, a USL alumnus, said he plans to create more job opportunities for USL graduates.
"Our best and brightest are leaving Lafayette, and that is not good," said Laborde. "USL produces some excellent graduates. But, we export graduates like Japan exports cars."
Laborde's plans include bringing in companies that will benefit graduates of the computer science department.
"We have one of the best computer science programs in the country, yet we have very few software and computer manufacturers here in Lafayette," he said.
Laborde also maintained that he would cut the utility rates for USL, putting the savings into the faculty and student body.
Landry, now in his third term as city councilman, agreed on lowering USL's utility rates.
"USL is one of the best assets that the city of Lafayette has," said Landry. "It not only offers one of the best means of higher education in the state, but is also a very good tax base for the city of
Lafayette."
Landry stressed that he wanted to work in developing the assets of the Cajundome to bring in a hotel or possibly a convention center.
In addition to utility rate breaks and job placement in Lafayette, Roy said he favored the development of the city into a "promenade area." The area, which would be a part of Lee Avenue,
would connect USL with the downtown area. It would contain a mixture of shops and government offices, reflecting the heritage and culture of the area. The area would also have suppressed
vehicular traffic, Roy said.
"One of my plans is to have a tram running throughout the entire area, tying USL in more firmly to the entire community," said Roy.
Roy agreed that the Lafayette community needed to grow business by placing recent graduates into the positions, and USL's strong educational facility could help.
"I like the track that Dr. (Ray) Authement and Dr. (Gary) Marotta have taken USL on," he said. "It has become more of a research university. I believe that government has to stand back just a little
bit and address the overall group. Anything that we do good for Lafayette will be good for the USL
students."
Vidrine, the only candidate without prior elected service,said he believed that the community needs to returns to "Christian foundations." He also stated that he thinks college students need to focus on Western civilization, staying away from multiculturalism.
"The American civilization is basically an European-Christian civilization," he said, "because of our philosophy, theology, and intellectual commitments, we have always allowed races and other
religions to come in and protect their rights. It is our Christian beliefs."
Vidrine said that as mayor-president, he will not only focus on the needs of Lafayette, but the needs of the country.
"By refocusing, we do more for our educational community for the university," said Vidrine. "Once again, there is a vision and an idealism that the students can strive for."
Copyright 1995 by The VERMILION |
