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Homemaker adapts with ease to councilman job
By BRENDA HEATHCOCK
The resurfacing of Felicity and Esplanade underway at this time is the latest improvement in Bay St. Louis? Ward 1 which can be credited to the persistence of the city?s first woman elected official, Lisa LeBon Cowand.
Being councilman has become a time-consuming, ?more than full-time job? for the former homemaker who took office just over one year ago.
Cowand has switched from planning menus to planning street paving projects and timetables for drainage system repairs.
?My first year has been a real eye-opener as far as learning more about the nuts and bolts of the system and I believe this will be an unending learning process,? she said.
?But I now have a much better understanding of the system and everything
Ward 1 Councilman Lisa Cowanri
I have learned has helped me to remedy situations more successfully,? Cowand added.
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?pothole-free? status area residents experienced earlier this year.
In April, Cowand and Beat 3 County Supervisor Roger Dale Ladner in a joint venture saw that every pothole in the ward?s paved streets was patched.
<?I really appreciate Supervisor Ladner for his assistance in making so many improvements in the ward possible,? she said.
Ladner has also participated in many other improvement projects in the area recently, including drainage work in Hancock Heights, funding for extension of Pine Street, rebuilding of Dunbar Avenue Pier, street repairs on Cedar Ridge Road, Pogo Street and Engman Avenue.
?Cowand has done a fantastic job of coordinating improvement efforts in Ward 1 between the city and county,? Ladner said.
?She is very conscientious and is doing a super job,? he said.
Ladner also said the people of Ward 1 were very fortunate to have a councilman of such caliber.
Other projects Cowand has played a part in getting completed are new gas lines on North Beach Boulevard, organizing neighborhood watch programs and ordinances dealing with trees in the city, noise and the use of city vehicles.
In addition, there are many projects she is currently working on to further improve situations in Ward 1.
Among these are drainage problems.
?I hope to see the drainage system on Boardman and Leonhard avenues really improved,? she said.
?We are getting into the stormy season and some residents on these streets will be unable to get out of their driveways,? Cowand said.
?I understand why the situation exists but we must get something done about it,? she said.
Cowand added she hopes to see a maintenance program for the city?s entire drainage system soon.
Co wand says she is ?urgently seeking? to find a remedy for the dangerous traffic situation at the intersection of US-90 and Dunbar Avenue caused by the congestion of traffic entering this highly commercial
the district,? Franckiewicz added.
Franckiewicz said he never thought about dealing with Cowand differently from the way he deals with the other councilmen because she is a woman.
?Because of my Southern traditional upbringing I may be slightly less blunt with her than the others,? he said.
There has been no hint of Cowand using the fact that she is a woman to get things accomplished, Franckiewicz confirmed.
Cowand said there has been no trouble in working with the all-male council.
The council is made up of a wide variety of personalities, she added.
?Although we have our differences, we keep in mind the common denominator of the welfare of the city and are generally able to reach acceptable decisions,? she said.
?We (the council) have a good rapport and are able to speak our minds without holding a grudge,? she said.
Cowand believes she may have been able to gain the respect of some of the people who were wary of the idea of a woman on the city council.
Cowand said her husband Norman and children, twins Norman and Brian age 5, and Lawren, 4, had concerns about her new job at first but have since adapted to her new duties and responsibilities.
?All of this would have been for nothing without the support of my biggest critic, Norman,??.she added.
?My initial concern when Lisa decided to
run for the office was whether she knew what she was getting into and would she be committed to it,? Norman Cowand said.
?There is no way I can tell you how proud I am of her and the commitment which has been evident from the beginning of the campaign through her day-to-day handling of the job,? he added.
Cowand also said he believes she has gained much respect from her constituents and co-workers.
An example of this is her recent election as president of the city council, he added.
?I am proud of the way she has accepted
(ilhc ^ca (Select IcHo
SUNDAY, JULY 13, 1986-1B
the challenges which she has met with enthusiasm,? he said.
?Lisa is not afraid to say what she believes and is constantly seeking insight from other people when she is unsure on an issue,? he added.
?All in all the first year was anything but dull and if the next three years are as eventful, I believe the city will have had a successful administration,? Cowand feels.
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