Elected and appointed officials from nine parishes gathered on Monday, Sept. 18, for a meeting at the Franklinton Country Club.

The Washington Parish Council hosted the meeting for members of the Police Jury Association. In addition to Washington Parish, Region VI includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana parishes.

Robby Miller from Tangipahoa Parish was announced as the 2018 Region VI president. The secretary/treasurer will also come from Tangipahoa Parish. The Region VI vice president will come from East Feliciana Parish. St. Tammany Parish’s Pat Brister was re-elected to serve as Region VI’s State Executive Board Member. Members of the Resolutions Committee were re-elected to serve. They are Livingston’s Layton Ricks, St. Tammany’s Pat Brister, and Ascension’s Kenneth Dawson.

Current Region VI President Reginald McMasters from Washington Parish presided over the meeting. The Franklinton High School ROTC presented the colors, and the Franklinton High School ProStart culinary class served the food to the attendees.

Washington Parish President Richard N. Thomas Jr. welcomed attendees to Washington Parish. Theodore “Ted” Jones, legislative lobbyist, was the guest speaker.

Jones told many stories regarding his life in politics. He even sang songs while playing his guitar to show the songs he once sung for candidates. Jones also told stories of many former Louisiana governors.

Toye Taylor, Deputy Chief of Staff of Intergovernmental Affairs from the Governor’s Office, expressed his gratitude to represent the current governor’s office and offered his office’s full support to members of the Police Jury Association. He said he was very grateful to be back in his home parish, where he was once parish president. He also gave a legislative update and his thoughts on the upcoming session.

PJAL President Joe Bishop of Rapides Parish then spoke to the crowd and gave a legislative update. He told members he was grateful to have a “strength in numbers” approach to achieve PJAL goals because all 64 parishes are members of the Association.

He also invited everyone to attend the upcoming PJAL Convention in New Orleans on Jan. 17-19, 2018. Bishop then led the business session.