Embarking on a four-year term as St. Tammany Parish president, Pat Brister pledged Monday to use the life lessons she has learned as a mother, businesswoman and political leader to build a government that serves the people.
Christine Harvey, The Times-PicayuneSt. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister takes the oath of office Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. Her husband, Joe Brister, center, holds the Bible, while U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey, right, administers the oath.
“Without always realizing it, I have been preparing my whole life for the role I have now undertaken,” Brister …

From when he was boy standing in the back of the Senate chamber, Paul Hollis knew he wanted to be a legislator like his father, late Sen. Ken Hollis.
Redistricting gave him the opportunity in the new St. Tammany Parish seat, District 104. “The second I found out about it I started running as hard as I could,” he said, eventually lending his campaign $180,000 and raising $61,000 more.
He won by beating fellow Republican Chris Trahan in the primary, 56-44 percent. The race was amiable (“At debates, I was clapping for …

A resident of St. Tammany for 33 years, Patricia “Pat” Brister brings a remarkable leadership background to her new position as parish president. She has served the country, the state and the parish in a variety of ways, from ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party to chairman of the St. Tammany Parish Council and executive director of the Northshore Business Council.
Prior to her recent inauguration, Pat’s transition team orchestrated a smooth changeover from Kevin Davis’ leadership. The team …

A new order authored by Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta will significantly impact the quality of service provided by taxicab companies throughout Louisiana in the new year.
The order, passed unanimously at the LPSC’s Dec. 14 meeting, imposes new standards and registration regulations on cab and limousine companies and drivers, all designed to improve passengers’ experience and safety.  Among the new regulations is a rule requiring each taxi driver to be registered with the LPSC; the previous order only required the cab company itself to have an LPSC registration number.  The …

(Gainesville, GA) – Popular talk show host and the leading conservative candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, Martha Zoller, released the following statement today regarding her adamant opposition to Agenda 21, a big government power grab adopted by the United Nations in 1992.