12/Jul/2009
Central City Council
Who Are They? What Do They Do? And Why Do They Do It?
The Central City Council includes five members who will soon complete their first official four-year term in office.
The City Council serves as the eyes and ears of the people of Louisiana’s newest city. It is their job to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone in Central. No doubt that is often a very big challenge.
In a brief interview with Council members last week they revealed a little of what is on their mind individually and collectively.
Ralph Washington
A native of the Ascension Parish town of Darrow, Ralph Washington is designated as Mayor Pro-Temp or the councilman who represents Central when the Mayor is not available.
He and his wife moved to Comite Hills some 20 years ago after looking for a place for over five years. “We were living in a subdivision just off of Perkins Road, and we were looking for a friendly country place that was more like home,” he said. “We have loved living in Central.”
Washington and his wife Carolyn have been the proud owners of Red Stick Cleaners for over nine years. He retired after 25 years of work with PraxAir in Geismer where he did maintenance and repair work on pumps and compressors. He said his job involved satisfying customers that were some of the largest chemical firms in the world. “Once you spend 25 years learning how to make Exxon and Dow happy you can figure out how to satisfy anybody,” he said. “No matter how big or small the customer it is all about customer service.”
After working with steam boilers and pumps it was natural for him to opt for a dry cleaning operation following retirement. “I had worked for the other man for many years and I just wanted to try running my own business,” he said.
Community work came naturally for Washington who had been president of a parent-teacher group at his children’s school and a volunteer on the HAZMAT team in Ascension Parish. “The governor appointed me for year and then I was elected to the City Council, and next year I will run again,” he said. “I love public service.”
The Washington’s son Raphael works with them in their business and their daughter is a certified internal auditor with Deloitte-Touche in Dallas.
Joan Lansing
Central native and Central High alumnus Joan Lansing has been in the licensed child care business in Central for many years. “We were Pre-K to fifth grade with a full-fledged school program until Central got their own schools,” she said. “Now we provide after care, summer and holiday Fun Camp programs from the same facility that is still called Central Christian Academy and Child Care.”
Lansing said the people came and asked her to put her name up to serve on the City Council, so she applied and was appointed by the governor. “Then I was elected for a four-year term and I intend to run again next year when my term is up,” she said.
She said she enjoys serving the people of Central, and that she feels some wonderful things have been accomplished in and for Central in recent years. “Central is in the midst of a great opportunity, and we just need to make sure we make right decisions,” she said.
Lansing was widowed in July of 2002. Her son Bob Lansing manages the family business as superintendent of Central Christian Academy. Her son Steve lives in Denham Springs and works for Rubicon Chemicals, and son Scott is the Student Pastor at the University of Texas in Austin.
Aaron Moak
Central native is another business owner serving on the Central City Council. He is a graduate of Central High and owner of Computer Evolutions and AT&T Wireless of Central.
“I actually started as a volunteer with the Central Fire Department when I was in high school,” explained Moak. “After ten years of involvement with the fire department I started my business in 1996.”
Over the past ten years, he has been president of both the Central Area Business Association and the Central Chamber of Commerce. Moak is serving a term as a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
“I really enjoy working in the community,” said Moak. “My family has always been involved in public service. My grandfather grew a big vegetable garden so he could give half of the produce away, and my dad was with the fire department for most of his life.”
Ten years ago Moak and his mom took over the Christmas Festival, and in Central Santa Claus and Aaron Moak are not strangers.
“I am just so proud of what we have been able to accomplish for Central,” he said. “We just need to all put our shoulders to the wheel and keep up the momentum and keep the spirit of volunteerism going. We can be the greatest city in Louisiana and in the nation and everybody will win in this fight.”
Moak said he will run for a second term on the Council next year.
Lucky Ross
Ross Tire and Car Care on Greenwell Springs Road is where Councilman Lucky Ross hangs his hat most days. He and his wife Juanita are Alexandria natives who have lived in Central for 39 years.
“I came to Baton Rouge as a Firestone Store manager and I did that until I retired in 1992 and we started our business as Central Car Care,” explained Ross. “It became Ross Tire in 1997.”
Ross said he has served a four year term on the City Council because he wants to help preserve the quality of life in Central. He said he has no other political aspirations but he has made up his mind to run for a second term.
“Overall it has been a very pleasant experience, but with something like this you are bound to have your ups and downs,” he said. “There are many good people driving Central forward and they are making many good decisions. The frustration comes from the fact that you can’t do all that you want to do.”
Growing pains is what Ross pointed to and he said patience is the only answer. “We want people to shop in Central, but we have to have a lot more economic development before ‘Shop Central First’ can become a reality,” he said. “It is just going to take time and I believe all of us can see that.”
Ross said he is vitally interested in the many pending issues that are so important to Central. He talked about the northern loop, the city’s master plan for growth and the zoning codes. “These are all decisions that will have to be made in the near future,” according to Ross.
Louis DeJohn
Catholic High graduate Louis DeJohn has been living in Central for 36 years. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the City Council for a year, and then he was elected to a four-year term. He said the job of City Councilman is very demanding and it takes him away from his business, but he does plan to run again next year.
“I would miss it too much if I did not run,” he said. “But sometimes I feel guilty about taking a paycheck from my company because my city councilman job takes so much of my time.”
DeJohn said much of what needed to be done to get things rolling for Central has been accomplished and he is very proud of all that has been achieved over the last five years. “The key was to get a strong foundation built and that has been done,” he said. “There is still a lot that has to be done.”
The budget for the City of Central is very tight, according to DeJohn, and means for financing have to be found. “A good example of what I am talking about is the new franchise fee that will help us with our capital outlay budget and that will help with needed infrastructure improvements,” he said. “We have street with too much traffic that have no shoulders, for example.”
DeJohn said CH2M Hill is doing a fine job of cutting grass and cleaning out ditches in Central which is helping with drainage. “People throw so much trash in the ditches until they stop up and then they want to complain when the ditches won’t drain,” he said.
Chairman of Cooking For Our Kids since the highly successful annual fund raising effort began, DeJohn told the Distinguished Partnership Award received recently from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“Incorporating the City of Central has given us a voice where before we were just crying to the wind,” he said. “Now we can take care of our own business and we are being heard and responded to.”
DeJohn said many positive things have been accomplished for the people of Central. “It is all about public service,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for, to be a public servant.”
That sentiment was inherent in the conversations we had with all of the members of the Central City Council. The attitude of service to the citizens of Central seemed to be paramount in the minds of all five council members. No wonder things are progressing well.
Who Are They? What Do They Do? And Why Do They Do It?
The Central City Council includes five members who will soon complete their first official four-year term in office.
The City Council serves as the eyes and ears of the people of Louisiana’s newest city. It is their job to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone in Central. No doubt that is often a very big challenge.
In a brief interview with Council members last week they revealed a little of what is on their mind individually and collectively.
Ralph WashingtonA native of the Ascension Parish town of Darrow, Ralph Washington is designated as Mayor Pro-Temp or the councilman who represents Central when the Mayor is not available.
He and his wife moved to Comite Hills some 20 years ago after looking for a place for over five years. “We were living in a subdivision just off of Perkins Road, and we were looking for a friendly country place that was more like home,” he said. “We have loved living in Central.”
Washington and his wife Carolyn have been the proud owners of Red Stick Cleaners for over nine years. He retired after 25 years of work with PraxAir in Geismer where he did maintenance and repair work on pumps and compressors. He said his job involved satisfying customers that were some of the largest chemical firms in the world. “Once you spend 25 years learning how to make Exxon and Dow happy you can figure out how to satisfy anybody,” he said. “No matter how big or small the customer it is all about customer service.”
After working with steam boilers and pumps it was natural for him to opt for a dry cleaning operation following retirement. “I had worked for the other man for many years and I just wanted to try running my own business,” he said.
Community work came naturally for Washington who had been president of a parent-teacher group at his children’s school and a volunteer on the HAZMAT team in Ascension Parish. “The governor appointed me for year and then I was elected to the City Council, and next year I will run again,” he said. “I love public service.”
The Washington’s son Raphael works with them in their business and their daughter is a certified internal auditor with Deloitte-Touche in Dallas.
Joan Lansing Central native and Central High alumnus Joan Lansing has been in the licensed child care business in Central for many years. “We were Pre-K to fifth grade with a full-fledged school program until Central got their own schools,” she said. “Now we provide after care, summer and holiday Fun Camp programs from the same facility that is still called Central Christian Academy and Child Care.”
Lansing said the people came and asked her to put her name up to serve on the City Council, so she applied and was appointed by the governor. “Then I was elected for a four-year term and I intend to run again next year when my term is up,” she said.
She said she enjoys serving the people of Central, and that she feels some wonderful things have been accomplished in and for Central in recent years. “Central is in the midst of a great opportunity, and we just need to make sure we make right decisions,” she said.
Lansing was widowed in July of 2002. Her son Bob Lansing manages the family business as superintendent of Central Christian Academy. Her son Steve lives in Denham Springs and works for Rubicon Chemicals, and son Scott is the Student Pastor at the University of Texas in Austin.
Aaron MoakCentral native is another business owner serving on the Central City Council. He is a graduate of Central High and owner of Computer Evolutions and AT&T Wireless of Central.
“I actually started as a volunteer with the Central Fire Department when I was in high school,” explained Moak. “After ten years of involvement with the fire department I started my business in 1996.”
Over the past ten years, he has been president of both the Central Area Business Association and the Central Chamber of Commerce. Moak is serving a term as a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
“I really enjoy working in the community,” said Moak. “My family has always been involved in public service. My grandfather grew a big vegetable garden so he could give half of the produce away, and my dad was with the fire department for most of his life.”
Ten years ago Moak and his mom took over the Christmas Festival, and in Central Santa Claus and Aaron Moak are not strangers.
“I am just so proud of what we have been able to accomplish for Central,” he said. “We just need to all put our shoulders to the wheel and keep up the momentum and keep the spirit of volunteerism going. We can be the greatest city in Louisiana and in the nation and everybody will win in this fight.”
Moak said he will run for a second term on the Council next year.
Lucky RossRoss Tire and Car Care on Greenwell Springs Road is where Councilman Lucky Ross hangs his hat most days. He and his wife Juanita are Alexandria natives who have lived in Central for 39 years.
“I came to Baton Rouge as a Firestone Store manager and I did that until I retired in 1992 and we started our business as Central Car Care,” explained Ross. “It became Ross Tire in 1997.”
Ross said he has served a four year term on the City Council because he wants to help preserve the quality of life in Central. He said he has no other political aspirations but he has made up his mind to run for a second term.
“Overall it has been a very pleasant experience, but with something like this you are bound to have your ups and downs,” he said. “There are many good people driving Central forward and they are making many good decisions. The frustration comes from the fact that you can’t do all that you want to do.”
Growing pains is what Ross pointed to and he said patience is the only answer. “We want people to shop in Central, but we have to have a lot more economic development before ‘Shop Central First’ can become a reality,” he said. “It is just going to take time and I believe all of us can see that.”
Ross said he is vitally interested in the many pending issues that are so important to Central. He talked about the northern loop, the city’s master plan for growth and the zoning codes. “These are all decisions that will have to be made in the near future,” according to Ross.
Louis DeJohn Catholic High graduate Louis DeJohn has been living in Central for 36 years. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the City Council for a year, and then he was elected to a four-year term. He said the job of City Councilman is very demanding and it takes him away from his business, but he does plan to run again next year.
“I would miss it too much if I did not run,” he said. “But sometimes I feel guilty about taking a paycheck from my company because my city councilman job takes so much of my time.”
DeJohn said much of what needed to be done to get things rolling for Central has been accomplished and he is very proud of all that has been achieved over the last five years. “The key was to get a strong foundation built and that has been done,” he said. “There is still a lot that has to be done.”
The budget for the City of Central is very tight, according to DeJohn, and means for financing have to be found. “A good example of what I am talking about is the new franchise fee that will help us with our capital outlay budget and that will help with needed infrastructure improvements,” he said. “We have street with too much traffic that have no shoulders, for example.”
DeJohn said CH2M Hill is doing a fine job of cutting grass and cleaning out ditches in Central which is helping with drainage. “People throw so much trash in the ditches until they stop up and then they want to complain when the ditches won’t drain,” he said.
Chairman of Cooking For Our Kids since the highly successful annual fund raising effort began, DeJohn told the Distinguished Partnership Award received recently from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“Incorporating the City of Central has given us a voice where before we were just crying to the wind,” he said. “Now we can take care of our own business and we are being heard and responded to.”
DeJohn said many positive things have been accomplished for the people of Central. “It is all about public service,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for, to be a public servant.”
That sentiment was inherent in the conversations we had with all of the members of the Central City Council. The attitude of service to the citizens of Central seemed to be paramount in the minds of all five council members. No wonder things are progressing well.
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