Mayor looks at busy inaugural year

Hilda Daigre Curry has closed out a busy first year in office as New Iberia’s Mayor. The two highlights of Mayor Curry’s first year in office were settling the sewer lawsuit and giving New Iberia residents the chance to vote on the police issue. Curry, daughter of longtime former Mayor J. Allen Daigre and granddaughter of former Mayor Joe Daigre, easily won office in September 2004, defeating incumbent Mayor Ruth Fontenot and two other candidates.

“I think we’ve had a great year,” said Mayor Curry to a local newspaper. “We had a lot of challenges, but we’ve had many successes.”

In the New Year, city officials are going to concentrate on some of the new commissions that have been formed, including New Iberia Municipal Authority, Arts and Culture Commission, Charter Commission and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board. The City of New Iberia will also see a comprehensive street repair program implemented next year—the first of one in 13 years. Another of Mayor Curry’s priorities for the New Year is working toward economical development and growth in the city. As well as working closely with Keep New Iberia Beautiful to address all the aesthetic and beautification issues in the city. With so much on the horizon for 2006, Mayor Hilda D. Curry said she is thankful for such great staff members, city employees and a cooperative council.