Historic move: Touchet appointed to fill out late husband’s term; will be first woman to serve on Vermilion Parish Police Jury

Liz Touchet was involved in her husband Wayne’s political life for 18 years as he served on the Vermilion Parish Police Jury.
She will continue that work as the first female to serve on the police jury after being appointed to fill the District 5 vacancy left on the board by his death on June 15. The VPPJ voted unanimously to appoint her to fill the remaining 17 months of his term at a special meeting held Tuesday in the police jury room at the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in Abbeville.
Touchet displayed a photo of her late husband while addressing the police jury. Many family members and friends filled the public seating space in the police jury room for Tuesday’s meeting.
“Thank you all so much,” she said. “Thank you to our family and friends, especially to the police jury members and the staff who had Wayne, and I’s back at every turn, even these last two difficult years.
“We know he had a passion for service and was trying to take care of District 5 even on his lowest days. He would tell me what to say, who to call, and how to handle some of the issues. He was so upset when he missed his third meeting in a row. He knew he had never done that before and didn’t want the public to think he wasn’t working.”
She said she calmed him down and told him she would read him the minutes of the meeting when they got them, and he seemed to be satisfied with that.
Ronald Darby, who has served for 18 years on the Vermilion Parish Police Jury in District 4, which abuts District 5, nominated Liz Touchet to serve the remainder of her husband’s term in office.
Mark Poché, who serves as the District 6 police juror, said he looks forward to working alongside Liz Touchet.
“When Wayne first got sick, about six months ago, he called me, and he asked me to do this for him,” Poché said. “He said, ‘in the event, something happens, I want you to be the guy to bring Liz on board.’ It’s very unusual to get that call, and I was honored to be the person to get that call.
“I’ve been sitting on the side of Wayne for 18 years, and I’m excited to have you sitting on the side. We’ve had a lot of discussions. Me and Wayne would get fussed at a lot because we were the ones that would talk in the meetings.”
“Without recognition,” another juror offered.
Touchet often shared photos and stories of his family life with Poché, the District 6 juror said.
“So I’m honored to have you here until this election comes up next year,” Poché said to Liz Touchet. “I have some jurors that say I can’t stay sitting alongside of you because there were things I did to Wayne in the meetings that I can’t do to you, but I’m still very happy to have you here, and welcome aboard.”
Liz Touchet said she spoke with her husband several times about her being appointed to his seat, saying she would laugh and say, “‘They’re never going to do it.’ And he would say, ‘Yes, they will. You can do the job, and you will. God knows you had enough training listening to me on the phone and in my actions of how I handled things.’ So he would shake his head and he would say, ‘That’s enough, you can do it.’ Because Wayne would always say, ‘That’s enough, Liz. I’ll be watching you.’
So it is with great pride and humbleness that I accept the position of District 5 police juror to finish filling out Wayne’s term on the jury. I know I will have help along the way as you guys are the best, and you guys are our second family. Please don’t ever stop saying, ‘Well, Wayne did it this way.’ Thank y’all.”
Darby said he had been friends with Liz and Wayne Touchet for a long time, and that the two were there for Darby when his wife passed away, visiting and taking care of his kids.
“I just want to appreciate you, and I’ll be honored, you being the first woman in the history of Vermilion Parish to be called a juror here, and I’ll be honored to serve with you,” he said.
Liz Touchet tearfully thanked Darby and the other police jurors.
After the meeting, she said she had talked to her husband for many months about possibly having to serve out his term.
“When he talked to me about it, I told him I would try my best, and he said ‘Well, you should know what I’m doing. We’ve been doing it for 18 years,’” she said. “And I told him, yes, and I think I could handle it. I didn’t believe they would put me in, but I’m very proud to serve and honor him.”
She also said she’s very proud to be the first woman to serve on the parish police jury.
“We didn’t know that this is how it would end up, but I will do my best to honor District 5 and do what Wayne wanted me to do,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, but I’ve learned a lot in the last 18 years with him, so I think I can do a good job. I know I can.”
Parish legal counsel Paul Moresi III told the police jury that under state election code, when a vacancy occurs under a parish authority such as a police jury or parish council, the parish government has 20 days to fill that vacancy with someone who meets the qualifications for that office. If not filled in 20 days, July 5 in this case, the governor has the right to fill the vacancy.
Because the next police jury meeting was not scheduled until July 20 — more than a month after the seat became vacant — the police jury called the special meeting. Moresi said he would make sure that the proper paperwork was sent to the secretary of state by July 5 to let the state know the vacancy had been filled.
Moresi said he and police jury president Jason Picard weren’t sure if a special election would have to be called to fill the remainder of the term, but research into the election code and a letter to the secretary of state clarified the issue.
“The next primary election for District 5 would occur in October of 2023,” Moresi said. “That’s less than 18 months from the vacancy. As a result, the law specifically says that no special election will be called, and the appointee, Liz, will serve the remainder of the term in office.”