Ronald Bourque and Fernest “Pac-Man” Martin are challenging incumbent City Marshal Stephen Falterman for the seat which encompasses all of the city limits of Jeanerette and some of the immediate rural areas to the city.
Falterman has served as Jeanerette City Marshal since 1996.
  
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Bourque, who retired from the Jeanerette Police Department in 2004 after serving 20 years, believes his experience will be valuable to the city marshal’s position.
“Having gone door to door speaking with the people, I have received a lot of encouragement from the people in the district,” said Bourque.
“I feel really good about Saturday’s election.”
Bourque came up through the ranks from patrolman, lieutenant, captain of patrol and served as assistant chief before retiring from the Jeanerette Police Department.
“I feel that being a police officer for over 20 years would help me be a better city marshal for the city of Jeanerette and the Ward 3 area if elected,” said Bourque.
Although the marshal’s position is part-time, if elected, Bourque said he plans to work full time in the position.
“I feel that being a full time city marshal would help me to better serve the office, the citizens of Jeanerette and the Ward 3 area,”
Bourque has attended several seminars and different types of training classes. He has attended the Acadiana Law Enforcement Academy at USL in Lafayette.
As part of the his training with the department, Bourque has attended several classes such as a Street Gang seminar, armed robbery seminar, homicide seminar, police officer street survival, U.S. Custom Class, and Intoxilyzer 5000.
“I enjoyed helping the citizens of Jeanerette as a police officer and will continue to help the citizens of Jeanerette and the entire ward as their next city marshal, if elected,” said Bourque.
Stephen Falterman
Falterman, a lifelong resident within the Ward 3 marshal’s district, has served in the position since 1996.
“I feel confident about the election judging from the response of the community and cross section. After going door to door, I have received a lot of positive comments and much support,” said Falterman.
“People believe there is no reason to change anything in an office that is running smoothly.”
Falterman said he will continue to knock on doors through election day and is encouraging voters to cast their ballot on Oct. 4.
Falterman has served as the former president of the Louisiana City Marshal’s Association from 1999-2000 and continues to be associated on a state level.
“I’ve worked closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and will continue to do so if re-elected,” said Falterman.
Falterman said he was able to advance the department forward in technology, while still keeping the department operating financially stable.
He has built up the department to include four active employees and three up to date patrol units with state of the art equipment.
Falterman said he will continue to operate the department in the same manner by reaching out to the community to provide as many people oriented services as possible.
Falterman said the marshal’s office is currently active in the school truancy program. His staff currently works with the city judge, school officials, and parents to improve student attendance rate.
“The program is proving to be effective,” he said.
“We also provide assistance to the Safety Net for Abused Persons (SNAP) by providing office space for a SNAP outreach center in Jeanerette and assistance with domestic abuse.”
Falterman said he will continue to work with the Sheriff’s Department to help coordinate inmate labor for cleaning of the streets and other city projects.
“I am dedicated and enjoy helping and working with the citizens of Ward 3. I want to continue to serve you as your marshal,” said Falterman.
Falterman is a graduate of Jeanerette Senior High School, attended ULL and is a graduate of the ULL Law Enforcement Academy.
Fernest Martin
Martin, a former patrol officer and lieutenant with 16 years of law enforcement, is counting on his experience to help him prevail in the race for Jeanerette city marshal.
Martin was a member of the Jeanerette Police Department for a number of years.
“I feel great about the election. After speaking with the people, I feel they want a change and I am the person that can bring this change,” said Martin. ”
“I have always had a desire for the change of the community and currently I think this is one of the areas of Jeanerette that needs changes. With 16 years of law enforcement, the people know what I stand for.”
For the past two years, Martin has served as the master drill instructor at Lee Street Alternative School. Before that, he was a correctional officer with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, a patrol officer for the Broussard Police Department and a school resource officer for the Iberia Parish School system.
If elected, Martin said he plans to implement several programs to help out at-risk children and troubled adults.
“If someone is incarcerated and has no education or job skill, I am going to get them the help they need so when they get out of jail they will have the necessary tools to become a productive citizen,” he said. “This was one of the programs I helped implement when I was president of the SMILE Head Start Policy Council.”
During his tenure in law enforcement, Martin picked up several certifications. He is a graduate of Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy, Patrol Officer Response to Street Narcotics, The Suicide Prevention/Management of Mental Health Emergencies and Federal Bureau of Prisons.
“It is time for a change in the city of Jeanerette. The people of Jeanerette deserve this and I believe I am the one to help start the change,” he said.
Martin is married to Mary Jones-Martin and enjoys spending time with his family. He has five daughters, two sons and four grandchildren.
Comments
HE IS A LIAR wrote on Oct 8, 2008 12:50 PM:
jonathon ayro wrote on Oct 3, 2008 1:17 PM:
mark bellott wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:06 AM: