Touchet sworn in as first female Police Juror in Vermilion Parish

It was an emotional start to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury meeting Wednesday night as Liz Touchet was officially sworn in as the first female police juror.
Touchet will serve out the remaining 17 months of her late husband’s term. Wayne Touchet served 18 years as the District 5 representative before his death on June 15.
As she was sworn in, fighting back tears at one point, sniffles could be heard from family members in attendance for the ceremony, including their daughter Victoria Richard and Wayne’s daughters Carrie Durke, Becky Sonnier and Renee Touchet.
When appointed to fulfill his term at the VPPJ meeting in June, Liz Touchet said her husband was working to represent his constituents even through his illness.
“We know he had a passion for service, and was trying to take care of District 5 even on his lowest days,” she said. “He would tell me what to say, who to call and how to handle some of the issues. He was so upset when he missed his third meeting in a row. He knew he had never done that before and he didn’t want the public to think that he wasn’t working.”
Touchet said that she and her husband talked for many months about her possibly having to serve out his term.
“When he talked to me about it, I told him I would try my best, and he said ‘Well you should know what I’m doing. We’ve been doing it for 18 years,’” she said. “And I told him, yes, I think I could handle it. I didn’t believe that they would put me in but I’m very proud to serve and honor him.”
Touchet said when she was appointed that she was very proud to be the first woman to serve on the parish police jury.
“We didn’t know that this is how it would end up, but I will do my best to honor District 5 and to do what Wayne wanted me to do,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, but I’ve learned a lot in the last 18 years with him, so I think I can do a good job. I know I can.”