Four candidates seeking to become St. Tammany Parish’s next sheriff outlined their plans for jail funding, public accountability and rebuilding trust during an appearance on the WDSU Hot Seat.
Retired Louisiana State Police Col. Robert Hodges, U.S. Marshal Scott Illing, retired St. Tammany deputy David Maki and Slidell police officer Daniel Seuzeneau are competing in the Nov. 3 election.
The position became vacant after former Sheriff Randy Smith resigned in June after pleading guilty to second-degree battery and a misdemeanor charge. The winner will serve the remainder of Smith’s term, which ends in January 2028, and would have to run again in fall 2027 to seek a full term.
How candidates plan to fund the jail
The candidates offered several alternatives for addressing the jail’s funding needs.
Seuzeneau proposed using money in the capital surplus, saying deteriorating jail conditions are contributing to morale and employee retention problems. He said the agency cannot continue delaying improvements.
Maki said he would identify appropriate spending cuts and consider restoring work release and inmate work programs to reduce expenses elsewhere.
Illing pointed to bonds, grants, federal funding and any available reserve money within the sheriff’s office.
Hodges said he would seek supplemental funding from state leaders in Baton Rouge while exploring bonds, loans and existing funds. He also expressed hope that the parish’s tax structure could eventually be reworked.
What spending or programs would the candidates cut
Hodges said he would not cut programs but would restore work release, which he said has not operated since 2020. He described it as a way for inmates to learn trades, help with repairs and improve their employment prospects after completing their sentences.
Illing said he would eliminate unnecessary equipment spending and prioritize personnel.
Maki similarly said equipment that does not contribute to public safety should be cut.
Seuzeneau identified unnecessary contracts as a potential source of savings and supported bringing back inmate labor.
What safeguards would the candidates put in place to prevent wrongful arrests
Asked about safeguards in connection with the Jeremiah Ramirez hit-and-run case, candidates emphasized investigative procedures, supervision and communication.
Maki, who said he was involved in the case, did not outline specific new safeguards. He defended the stop, saying investigators had reasonable suspicion and eventually probable cause.
Seuzeneau called for methodical, step-by-step investigations and greater transparency. He said he did not believe a news conference had been held about the case and argued that earlier public communication could have addressed questions.
Illing said better supervision, oversight and coordination with the district attorney’s office would be priorities.
Hodges said communication with prosecutors was lacking early in the case. He called for closer coordination with local police, state police and federal partners to use all available resources in major investigations.
Candidates address role state leaders should play in local elections
Hodges, who reported to Gov. Jeff Landry while serving as State Police superintendent, defended his relationship with the governor. He said his selection for that position reflected his experience, leadership and work with law enforcement and state government partners.
Hodges said he appreciated Landry’s support and did not view the governor’s involvement as an issue in his decision to run.
Illing said the choice belongs to parish residents, not the governor’s office. Although appointed by the president to his federal position, Illing said he was not asking the president to come endorse him.
Maki said he respects the governor but believes state politics should not interfere in local elections.
Seuzeneau said the sheriff answers to St. Tammany residents and that voters do not need outside influence to choose the right candidate.
Candidates weigh in on state-interest in the race
Seuzeneau and Maki did not offer explanations for the state-level interest in the election.
Illing described St. Tammany as a large and important parish.
Hodges called it the state’s fourth-largest parish and emphasized its proximity to New Orleans. He said developments in the surrounding suburbs affect Louisiana as a whole.
He also said relationships with state and federal agencies are important because their funding and support help the sheriff’s office provide public safety.
Candidate-specific questions:
David Maki:
Maki was asked why he had not corrected problems before retiring. Maki said his authority as a lieutenant extended to those below him, not those above him.
He said he made suggestions and believed his willingness to challenge leadership may have limited his advancement.
Maki said he is running because he wants the authority to make the changes he believes the office needs.
Scott Iling:
Illing was asked if his federal experience prepared him for local challenges.
Illing pushed back against the suggestion that a career largely outside the sheriff’s office left him unfamiliar with deputies’ day-to-day challenges.
He said he was born and raised in St. Tammany and began his career as a Covington patrol officer before serving as a state trooper with Troop L.
His federal assignments also kept him connected to the region, he said, including through a U.S. Marshals task force that included St. Tammany deputies.
Robert Hodges:
Hodges was asked what responsibility he accepted for state police accountability failures during his tenure as superintendent.
When asked what personal responsibility he accepted following the Justice Department’s investigation into excessive force and accountability failures at Louisiana State Police, Hodges focused on improvements made during his tenure.
He said the agency partnered with the FBI, expanded trooper training and pursued accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, known as CALEA. He said that process would be completed in November.
Hodges described those efforts as steps toward stronger professionalism, higher standards and greater public trust.
Daniel Seuzeneau:
Seuzeneau was asked whether personal relationships could interfere with holding employees accountable. Seuzeneau said leadership starts at the top and that everyone would be held to the same standard.
He said his record demonstrates a willingness to hold people accountable regardless of who they are, including those in positions of public trust.
Candidate’s promises in the first 100 days:
Illing pledged to review every sheriff’s office contract and account for every dollar within his first 90 days. He also proposed reviewing relationships with other agencies and sharing findings with the public.
He said he wants to host a weekly podcast, “Ask the Sheriff,” where residents could ask questions and receive progress updates.
Maki said he would continue making his cellphone number public and meet residents where they are rather than expecting them to come to him.
Hodges proposed an online spending portal, similar to the state’s, where residents could review purchases, acquisitions and the use of taxpayer money.
Seuzeneau said the office must be accessible, answer difficult questions and listen to residents. He said officials should not use public records procedures to avoid providing information or hide from the media.
READ MORE:Hot Seat: Four candidates vying for St. Tammany sheriff
