Timothy P. Kerner Sr

Timothy P. Kerner Sr. spent some three decades as Mayor of Jean Lafitte, Louisiana before becoming State Representative of District 84. During his tenure as mayor of Jean Lafitte, he spearheaded an unprecedented list of capital improvements, including: a senior center, a 1,300-seat auditorium, a library, a museum and theater, a civic center and a baseball park, a medical clinic, an art gallery, a nature trail and a visitor center.[1] In addition to civic improvements, Kerner has lobbied for the state and federal government successfully for major infrastructure including, bridge and road improvements.[2]

Kerner worked diligently to secure flood protection for his community, as Jean Lafitte is located outside the levee system built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.[3] A major achievement for Kerner was the creation of the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District, to build and maintain levees around Jean Lafitte, Lafitte, Barataria and Crown Point. In 2014, construction began on the Fisher School Basin levee project, the first ring levee to reduce the risk of storm surge in town of Jean Lafitte.[4] Construction on the first ring levee, which consisted of two phases, was completed in 2018.[5] Construction began on the Rosethorn Basin levee, the second of a total of 10 ring levees in March 2022.[6]