City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

About the Mayor

Mayor Roach was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and graduated from LaGrange High School in 1969. He earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from LSU and his law degree from LSU in 1976. He is married to Nancy Seger Roach and they have two children and three grandchildren - Jeremiah, Jude and Marie.

From 1985-1987, Mayor Roach served as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lake Charles and represented the City in all phases of the Chennault Consolidation project. He drafted and presented federal and state legislation and conducted negotiations with Boeing Aircraft, formerly located at Chennault.

Mayor Roach served two terms (1988-1996) as a State Representative in the Louisiana Legislature representing District 36, which included part of Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. In the Legislature, he served on:

>Civil & Law Committee

>Ways and Means Committee

>Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee

>Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coastal Restoration

>Member of the Advisory Panel on Louisiana Wildlife & fisheries Commission

>Member of the Governor's Task Force on Judicial Selection

>Member of the Louisiana Drug Coordinating Council

In 1998, Governor Mike Foster appointed Mayor Roach to serve as Chairman of the Governor's Task Force for the Continuation of the T.I.M.E.D. Program, to improve and expand projects for the four lane highways and related economic development matters

Mayor Roach was elected as Mayor of Lake Charles in 2000 to fill the unexpired term of the previous mayor. In 2001, he was re-elected and began his first full term on July 1, 2001. He was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2009. As mayor, he has worked closely with city and parish governments and other agencies to form partnerships and pool resources that benefit not only Lake Charles, but also the entire Southwest Louisiana five-parish area.

Mayor Roach is a member of the following organizations:

>Louisiana State Bar Association

>Board of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

>University United Methodist Church

>Board of The America's Wetland Foundation

Accomplishments of the Roach Administration

Initiated a $90 million bond issue for projects within the City, which was approved by voters in November 2006

Initiated a downtown/lakefront development plan, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in May 2007

Bond and Capital Improvements:

The City issued $35 million in bonds in May 2007 for Phase 1 and $40 million in bonds in March 2010 for Phase II of the $90 million capital improvement plan that was approved by Lake Charles voters. As of December 2010, the City has spent $40.7 million of the bond proceeds and has an additional $23.3 million in construction commitments related to the bond issue. Local road projects, water and sewer extensions, recreation improvements and downtown development make up the majority of the spending.

$162 million (including $40.7 million in bonds) in capital improvement projects since 2005, including improvements to: streets; drainage; water line, sewer line and plant improvements (including the new Plant D); recreation; downtown/lakefront development; Mallard Cove Golf Course; Civic Center; and other city projects

Established the Regional Partnership for Economic Development

Established a joint partnership between the Louisiana Technology Park and the City of Lake Charles to build a strong technology infrastructure and provide economic opportunity.

Developed city sales tax exemption for aircraft manufacturers

State Roads: Worked with local elected officials and state legislators and secured approval and funding for state highway projects, connect I-10 service roads, Enterprise Boulevard resurfacing, I-210 enhancements and replacement of the median on Highway 14.

7 Parks Program bond issue project providing for the improvement/expansion of the 7 parks - one in each City Council district - including shade structures, fencing, and up-to-date playground equipment

Initiated development of Adventure Cove Park - which accommodates the physically disabled - at Ward 3 Sports Complex

Assisted in obtaining funding through Capital Outlay for the expansion of the SWLA Center for Health Services, the additions for women's health center

Established a Ward 3 Recreation District

At the March30, 2010 City Council Agenda Meeting, the City's finance department and the City's auditors, McElroy, Quirk and Burch, presented the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year which ended September 30, 2009.

>The City's net assets increased by $9.8 million or 2.8 percent during the year to a total of $367.3 million.

>Capital assets increased by $18 million

>The City reports $83.4 million in construction in progress.

>The unreserved, undesignated fund balance in the General Fund is $20.4 million as of September 30, 2010.

Worked with the Calcasieu Parish OEP and area municipalities toward a smooth evacuation of citizens prior to Hurricane Rita, a safe return following the hurricane and throughout the recovery process

Developed the Community Commitment awards to recognize exceptional young people

Established the Neighborhood Pride Committee

Worked with the Calcasieu Parish School Board and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office through a joint services agreement to upgrade school signs throughout the City

Established a computer center at Martin Luther King Center

Installed online and automated telephonepayment for water bills

With community support, created a September 11^thMemorial with beams from the World Trade Center and granite from the Pentagon

Opened 1911 Historic City hall as an Arts & Cultural Center

Honors and Awards

>1998 Best New House Member - Times Picayune

>Legislator of the Month - Louisiana Municipal Association

>Most Effective Legislator - Morning Advocate

>Citizen of the Year - Lake Charles Kiwanis Club

>1990 Representative of the Year - Louisiana Federation of Teachers

>2002-2003 President of Louisiana Conference of Mayors

>2004 "Shining Example" award for Governmental Tourism Leadership-Southeast Tourism Society

>2006 "Champion of Children Public Service Award" - Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana - from the Louisiana Public Health Association >2007 Governor's Art Award for Leadership in the Arts

>2009 Patron of Landscape Architecture Award from Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture