By Ginger Broomes

 

Being a county commissioner was something Johnny Trahan always thought he could do, having been a part of Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Club.

“I always tried to give back to community. Being a commissioner is kind of the ultimate way, so I thought I could make some changes,” Trahan said. “That’s why I decided to do it.”

For about a year and a half, Trahan has been commissioner over Precinct 1. As part of the Commissioners’ Court, he is one of four elected commissioners. The Commissioners’ Court makes the policy of the county and has final approval over county departmental budgets.

Prior to being elected, he worked for Entergy for over 35 years.

“My goal when I came to the county was to put a lot of things in place,” he said. “Things with economic development.” Then along came Harvey.

“It kind of changed the direction of everything. So I’ve been spending a lot of time lately going to FEMA meetings and different organizations, making sure we get our share of the grants when they come in. I meet a lot with the drainage district and different entities trying to get the drainage improved, so we won’t be so upset when it rains.”

“Now when it rains, and I understand that, people get upset, they’re looking for someone to come in and find a way where it won’t flood, and so just trying to work with all the entities and making sure we can do a better job with drainage and keeping people from flooding.”

During the latest storm, Trahan surveyed several neighborhoods, noting there were still a lot of drainage issues. Although he stays in contact with the various entities, he contacted the drainage district and TXDOT again to try to take care of some of the roads.

“The ditches along Highway 87 – which really are TXDOT’s responsibility – but we’re gonna do what we’re gonna do because we have to get drainage in a little bit better situation than what we have now.”

Trahan considers being a commissioner a full- time job and treats it as such. Every day he is working on where the problems are and how to fix them.

“I meet with customers all the time. They live through it, so they can tell you where the issues are before you even know it.”

Asked what he hopes to accomplish in his time as an elected county official, he said, “Hopefully you’re making a difference and you’re making it better for people because that’s what you’re trying to do.”