Jeff Naquin elected Assumption Parish Police Jury president as Leroy Blanchard urges review of government structure

Jeff Naquin was elected Police Jury President of Assumption Parish on Jan. 14, 2026, in a unanimous vote following remarks from outgoing President Leroy Blanchard that he would not continue in the role and that the jury should consider structural changes to parish government.

Blanchard told fellow jurors he has served three years as president and said the part-time structure does not meet the demands of the job. He urged the jury to consider a consolidated form of government or creating a full-time Parish President or a true Parish Manager separate from Public Works, citing the volume of meetings, grant work and obligations that extend beyond a part-time schedule.

After nominations and a three-call period with no additional nominees, Police Juror Leroy Blanchard nominated Jeff Naquin; Jamie Ponville seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Naquin thanked the jury for their confidence and said he would take on the duties for 2026. The jury also elected Ron Alcorn as Vice-President on a unanimous vote.

The leadership change came during a regular meeting that included committee reports and several unanimous votes on budgets, contracts and resolutions. Blanchard’s proposal to study a transition to a consolidated or more executive-focused government sets the stage for additional discussion and possible future action by the jury.

Next steps: Naquin’s initial duties include presiding over regular meetings and executing the resolutions approved Jan. 14; any formal study or charter-change process on altering the parish’s government form would require separate motions and public process.