For Release, Friday, July 7, 2006
 

DAVIS, LOCAL LEADERS, TO MEET WITH GOV. BLANCO 

            Parish President Kevin Davis will be joined by local mayors and Sheriff Jack Strain at a private meeting with the governor and select members of her cabinet next week. 

            Several months ago, Davis requested the meeting with Governor Kathleen Blanco and her staff to address the concerns of St. Tammany officials.  The meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday morning, July 11, at the Governor’s Mansion. 

            Sheriff Jack Strain and the mayors of all eight of St. Tammany’s municipalities have been invited, and most are expected to attend.   

            Also expected to attend the meeting are the Secretaries of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation and Development; State Police officials; and Louisiana Recovery Authority Director Andy Kopplin, among others. 

            “We’ve felt it was important for local leadership to be able to get direct answers from Governor Blanco’s administration about some important issues facing our community,” Davis said. “I’m pleased we were able to get time on the governor’s busy schedule and that so many officials at both the state and local level will be available to attend. 

            “The state of our parish nearly a year after Katrina, while strong and improving, still requires resources from the state level,” Davis added. “We need to have a clear understanding of what those resources are and how we can access them, and there’s no better way to get these answers than to meet directly with the people in charge.” 

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