Lisa Doucet is appointed city marshal

Lisa Doucet, wife of the late Ronald Doucet, was appointed as Ville Platte City Marshal to fill the vacant position during a special meeting Tuesday of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury.
“I just want to thank the people on the police jury for believing in me and for the people of Evangeline Parish,” Doucet said. “I want to serve them and do my best for Ronald in his honor.”
The appointment, however, did not come without the raising of a few eyebrows.
Juror Rocky Rider made the motion to appoint Doucet, and Juror Daniel Arvie immediately moved to close the nominations.
When the vote was called to close the nominations, Jurors Eric Soileau and Kevin Veillon abstained.
“I’m puzzled because there was another person involved who is not here,” Soileau said. “I would really like to talk to that person before I would have voted on this matter.”
Veillon congratulated Doucet on her appointment but echoed Soileau’s sentiments. “I have nothing personal against Ms. Lisa,” he said, “but I was sent an email or a text through the Jury stating someone would be nominated. I don’t know what happened, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to that person.”
Veillon continued, “I don’t know the other person at all, but I do know she worked with Ronald and was his right hand man. She is very qualified for the job. I know it’s only for a short time period, but I wanted to make sure I understood everything because I’m really confused.”
Voting to close the nominations were Jurors Arvie, Rider, President Ryan “LeDay” Williams, Lamar Johnson, and Ryan Ardoin. Juror Sidney Fontenot was absent.
The jury then voted on a resolution to call for a special election. Qualifying for the position of city marshal will run from January 8 through January 10, 2020, the primary election will be April 4, 2020, and the general election will be May 9, 2020.
The jury also voted on a resolution concurring with a resolution from the Board of Commissioners of the Prairie Mamou Drainage District #8 calling for an election to continue levying a special tax which is set for April 4, 2020.
In other business, the jury voted to change tonight’s trick-or-treat hours in the unincorporated areas of the parish to 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.