Question of residency in Erath

RATH — Some Erath residents have been wondering whether or not Carl “CoCo” Broussard, an Erath councilman, is still living in Erath. Broussard says they have nothing to worry about.

His home at 706 E. Bourque St. has a sign in front of it saying it is “For sale by owner” and the phone number there has been disconnected. Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court records show Broussard purchased a home in Youngsville, in Lafayette Parish, in October.

Vermilion Parish Assessor Kathy Broussard, however, said Broussard’s homestead exemption is still located at his Erath address.

Broussard said he is residing in both locations.

“I have two homes,” he said. He said he plans to remain an Erath councilman.

Broussard said he also has another home in Erath that is empty and, should the home at 706 E. Bourque St. sell, he would move into that one.

Vermilion Parish District Attorney Michael Harson, who investigates complaints like this in Vermilion Parish as part of his job, said he has not received a complaint about Broussard.

Harson said his “gut reaction” is dual residency would allow someone to run for office in two locations, which he doesn’t believe would be legal.  “I think you have to have one principle” residency, he said.

An investigation would have to determine where the person’s primary residence was.

“I don’t know anything about Mr. Broussard, but if someone files a written complaint I’d be happy to investigate,” Harson said.

Mayor George Dupuis said he tries to “keep my nose out of everybody’s business,” adding he heard rumors but saw Broussard cutting the grass at his Erath home the other day.

Broussard expressed frustration with “people trying to find faults in you.”

“If they would spend the effort and the time putting that back into the community, our community would be a lot better off,” he said. “I was elected by the people of Erath, and that’s who I’m serving.”

Dupuis said the council’s four-year term expires Dec. 31, 2010, with an election in October of that year.

Broussard will have served as councilman for 12 years by that date, with no term limit. He said he is not planning to run again after that.