All In for Arnaudville...

My vision:
I envision an Arnaudville that carries the best of our past into the promise of our future.  Not a return to a bygone era, but a community where the values that once made small towns strong - neighbors knowing neighbors, thriving local businesses, pride in our homes and streets, and a shared sense of belonging - are strengthened by thoughtful planning and new opportunities. 
We don't have to choose between preserving who we are and becoming what we can be.  I believe we can do both.

What to Know About Me...

 

Every family in Arnaudville has a story of how they came to call this place home.

For some, that story reaches back generations—to the Cajun families who settled along Bayou Teche, put down roots, raised their children, and built a community. Somewhere along every family line was a person who chose Arnaudville and decided, this is where we will make our home.

 

My story simply began a little later.

 

In fact, I was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, to a young couple who believed in the values they had been taught: be honest, be kind, show respect, work hard, do your best in school, and honor your parents.

I was raised in Lamesa, Texas, by my grandparents, who were pillars of their community. They instilled those same values in my two sisters and me. Years later, when I came to Arnaudville, I recognized something familiar. The people were different, the place was different, but the values felt very much like home.

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I found my forever love in my late husband, Eddy LeCompte. And yes, Eddy was born here. He came from good Cajun stock—the son of Wilbert LeCompte and Paulita "Pyo" Lalonde.

 

After Hurricane Katrina changed the course of our lives, we relocated to Arnaudville. Partly because it felt like coming home, and partly because it simply felt right.

 

I went to work for the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, and Eddy became Chief of Police. We both found a sense of belonging here and fully embraced Arnaudville and its people. Sadly, Eddy went before me to his eternal home in 2023, but the community we chose together remains my home.

 

Serving Arnaudville

 

I was elected Alderwoman in a special election and have tried to use that opportunity to make local government more open, accountable, and responsive.

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I began live-streaming town meetings so citizens could see their government at work. I have strongly supported our Police Department, including raises and critical equipment. I introduced and advocated for the development of a ten-year plan for Arnaudville because I believe our future deserves more than reacting to one problem at a time. I have also advocated for greater accountability in council attendance, including the belief that compensation should reflect whether elected officials actually show up to do the job they were elected to do.

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Experience That Prepared Me to Lead

I recently retired after two careers that taught me a great deal about leadership, responsibility, people, budgets, and service.

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As a private school administrator, I managed approximately 25 employees, worked with a governing board and numerous volunteers, and oversaw a budget that required careful stewardship.

My career in nonprofit leadership expanded that experience. I wrote and managed grants, developed programs and services, coordinated volunteers, participated in disaster relief, advocated on legislative issues, managed budgets and resources, and served on regional and statewide boards.

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But leadership isn't only about what appears on a résumé.

A mayor needs the skills to manage the business of a town, but also the temperament to work with people. That means listening. It means treating people with respect. It means having compassion and empathy. And sometimes, it means having the courage to make difficult decisions and stand firm.

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Now that I am retired, I can also give the job something especially important: my time.

I believe Arnaudville deserves a mayor who can be present, accessible, and focused every day on the work of our town—not as a second job, but as a first priority.

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The story of Arnaudville has always been written by people who chose to plant roots here, raise families here, build something here, and leave something better for those who followed.

Ed and I made that choice nearly twenty years ago.

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I choose Arnaudville still. And now I am asking for the opportunity to serve the town I chose to call home.