Notable candidates vie for St. Tammany sheriff position as Election Day nears

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - It is less than 24 hours before voters go to the polls to vote in the hotly contested St. Tammany Sheriff’s race.

Four candidates with extensive law enforcement experience are vying to be for the North Shore’s top cop.

This has been a vibrant race to fill the unexpired term of former Sheriff Randy Smith after his resignation earlier this year. Four candidates, Robert Hodges, Scott Illing, David Maki and Daniel Seuzeneau said they are best qualified to lead the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m an army veteran, I have a 32-year career in Louisiana State Police rising to the rank of colonel, and I have no connections to St. Tammany politics,’ said former State Police Commander Robert Hodges.

“I had a phenomenal 42-year career in law enforcement beginning as a police officer,” said former US Marshall Scott Illing.

“For me, it’s always been about the men and women of the Parrish. It’s not about politics or big money donors,’ said former St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad Commander David Maki.

“Our focus is being positive, bring the people together in St. Tammany, working on financial issues and cutting back on frivolous spending,” said former Slidell Police Chief Daniel Suezeneau.

Whoever wins the race will serve for 18 months, the unexpired term left by Sheriff Smith’s resignation, and the candidates said there will be some big challenges ahead.

“We have to replace all inmate labor with government contracts costing millions of dollars and putting them back to work. It’s good for taxpayers and lowers the recidivism rate,” said Seuzeneau.

“I think the jail will be the biggest one, especially if that sales tax does not pass,” said Maki.

“The parish prison is going to be a challenge. That’s got to be done, as well as the operation of the sheriff’s office. I want to change the efficiency of how we do things,” said Illing.

“Certainly you’ve got to earn the trust of the public; it’s not given. And once you have it, you have to maintain it,’ said Hodges.

If no single candidate gains more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held next month.

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