JEANERETTE -- Public safety, annexation and economic development are recurring issues that mayoral candidates say are important to Jeanerette's future.

Three men are vying for the top job for Jeanerette city government: Zaphany E. Banks, Lynden J. Burton and Arthur Verret.

Voters are getting acquainted with the candidates as the March 31 election date draws near. Early voting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 19-24 at the Iberia Parish Clerk of Court's Office. A runoff, if necessary, is scheduled for May 5.

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The mayoral candidates for the 2007 election took time with The Daily Iberian, to help voters learn more about them.

Zaphany E. Banks

"In the past we have had several issues that we couldn't solve in Jeanerette and I plan to represent people from all backgrounds as mayor," Zaphany E. Banks said.

Banks, whose family is from Jeanerette, said that he moved away from the city for a while, but returned in 1998 after finishing college at Grambling State University and serving in the Marine Corps.

"First on my list is public safety," Banks said. "We are making progress in the police department with new facility, but we still have several problems with crime and drugs, which makes this an issue that is very high on my list. I want to make this a safe place to live and raise a family."

Banks said that he has looked at the city's budget and sees that it is "strapped." However, he would like to find ways to increase officer pay, he said.

"I will never say that I have all the answers because there is simply no magic solution to solving all of the city's issues," Banks said.

Drainage and economic development, he said, are issues that go hand in hand.

Banks is an associate minister and lifelong member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Jeanerette and is a teacher and coach at Franklin Senior High, which is the reason for education being a priority in his campaign efforts.

Although available to many parishioners, Banks said that he does all of his campaigning away from the church by knocking on doors and walking through the community.

"I don't campaign at church because worship time is not a time to campaign," he said. "I'd like to knock on every door in the city of Jeanerette. Not by representatives, but with my own fist."

Lynden J. Burton

Lynden J. Burton said his educational background makes him a good candidate for mayor.

Having lived in Jeanerette most of his life, leaving to obtain his bachelor's degree from LSU and his law degree from Southern University Law Center, Burton said that the city has since change drastically.

"It seems that there were more businesses when I was growing up there then there are now," said Burton. "We really need to extend the city limits across I-49 and market to companies that would be interested in coming here."

He hopes to help Jeanerette work more closely with parish and state officials to create incentives for interested businesses.

Burton said that he intends to hit every street and knock on every door if possible.

"I've walked half of the city so far asking the citizens for their concerns," he said. "Most people are concerned about jobs and opportunities in Jeanerette as well as the problem with crime, so that is where I'll start."

Burton said that getting police pay that is comparable to surrounding cities is crucial and would help with the city's crime by attracting more qualified officers. He said that he visualizes a well-paid police department that receives help through joint programs with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department.

Working on the parish mosquito control board, Burton said, has given him the opportunity to effect decisions that concerns Jeanerette as well as the entire parish.

"The board deals a lot with surplus money, which is divided among the cities and used for drainage," he said. "Anyone who lives in Jeanerette knows that drainage problems are a big deal."

A close No. 2 on Burton's list is making Jeanerette a cleaner and more visually stimulating environment.

"Dilapidated houses that are not being torn down need to be addressed. Picking up trash in the community does also," he said. "I believe that city workers should be informed that this is a priority and I will work to get the government's help to acquire the equipment needed to accomplish that."

Burton currently works at Pecantte-Burton and Burton law firm that he co-partners with his wife in New Iberia.

He is an honor graduate of Jeanerette Senior High, a former member of the Epiphany Day School Board, a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, a sports agent for the NFL and a coach for the Iberia Parish Recreation Biddy Basketball team.

"The city of Jeanerette has given me the opportunity get to where I am," Burton said. "As mayor, I will have the opportunity to give back."

Arthur Verret

Incumbent Mayor Arthur Verret is a 20 year veteran mayor of Jeanerette.

"I'm running on my record and I'm proud of that record and the progress we've made these past years," Verret said. "I have such a vast knowledge of city government with 20 years as mayor and four on the Board of Alderman. My knowledge, experience and track record shows how well my administration has done."

Hoping for the chance to complete the projects started during his administration, Verret said he would also like to the city grow economically and that he will accomplish that goal by working toward annexing more land near where the four-laning of Canal Street is taking place.

"Economic development is important and would help to keep our sales tax at home," Verret said. "I am still very interested in annexation and I think that its a great idea to expand the city limits. I'd like to see more businesses established and by expanding the city limits it will be easier to attract those businesses."

To assist with the expansion, he plans to work to find grant money to establish the infrastructure that will be needed.

Verret declined to discuss what he believes is the greatest problem facing the city, but responded by saying that there were too many good things being accomplished to dwell on the bad.

"If we must talk about the bad, let's talk about how the city was in a deficit of $650,000 to $1 million when I (returned to) office in 1999," he said. "Since then, I have managed to make the city a very financially stable institution."

Among Verret's accomplishments, he said that the greatest have been the completion of a $750,000 law enforcement center and the $4 million water treatment plant.

"Our new water plant was no small project. It took a lot of financial planning and long hours of filing grant applications to complete," he said. "I work an average of 12 to 15 hours each day to handle all the paper work plus day-to-day operations."

As incumbent, he has one thing on his side -- the community already knows who is. However, Verret said he still hopes to get out and meet as many people as he can.

Voters are invited to a political forum Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the King Joseph Recreation Center in Jeanerette where candidates in the March 31 election for mayor and alderman will be present to discuss topics that concern the community.

The event is hosted by the Lambda Iota Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

Sorority Vice President, Anna Minor said that this is a good time for the public to hear what each candidate stands for while they are all in one place.

"This is the opportunity to hear the candidate's views on vital issues that effect out community," Minor said.