Will continue to serve on Abbeville City Council after being named superintendent of Lafayette Parish School System

For Francis Touchet Jr., two titles are not too many.
Touchet, who has served on the Abbeville City Council since 2002, recently became the superintendent of the Lafayette Parish School System. Touchet has had a decades-long career in education.
During Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, Touchet said that he will continue to serve on the council.
“I’m sure you are all aware that there have been a lot of things happening in my life the last month or so as far as my job is concerned,” Touchet said. “There has been lots of speculation in the city and the Lafayette Parish School system about whether or not I can continue in this role as a city councilman.”
Touchet spoke with Abbeville City Attorney Bart Broussard and Mayor Roslyn White about his future with the city.
“Our attorney has confirmed,” Touchet said, “with both the (Louisiana) Attorney General’s Office and the office of ethics that I am in complete good standing as far as they’re concerned to do both jobs.”
Touchet’s roles are in separate parishes. It is highly unlikely that the City of Abbeville and the Lafayette Parish School System will conduct any business together.
“If there is anything we ever have to deal with,” Touchet said, “I will abstain. Over the last 22 years, I have never seen anything come to this table that we dealt with that school system.”
Touchet said he wanted to take the opportunity on Tuesday to reaffirm his commitment to the city and his constituents. Touchet began his sixth and current term in July of ‘22.
“To set the record straight,” Touchet said, “I will continue to work with this mayor and this council until this term ends. Then, we will see what happens moving forward. Again, just to set the record straight, we have done everything to make sure we are in good standing.
“I look forward to continue working with every council member and our mayor.”
White said the feeling is mutual.
“We’re glad that he can stay on board,” White said. “I look forward to serving the rest of your term with you.”
Touchet said despite the demands of his job as superintendent, his focus to serving will remain the same.
“I am a strong enough person to do both jobs,” Touchet said. “I am strong enough to continue to do my day job but also make sure that I care for the people who elected me for the past 20-plus years.”