For Immediate Release
Contact: Natalie Robottom, nrobottom@bellsouth.net, 504.444.2063
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St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom announced today that she is seeking reelection in this fall’s balloting, scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
“I remain committed to serving our community and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This includes finalizing critical infrastructure improvements and securing the economic future of our residents and businesses
,” Robottom said. “By restoring the public’s trust in government, promoting transparency and maintaining sound fiscal policies, the groundwork has been laid fo r continued progress.”
Robottom ’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of parish government and its operations have facilitated more than $62 million of residential and commercial construction in St. John. Through her leadership as parish president, some $53 million in infrastructure improvements have been completed, with another $73 million of improvements ongoing. Robottom and her administrative team of professionals will continue their extensive public outreach efforts to seek input from citizens on ways government can better meet their needs.
Robottom’s intimate understanding of the parish’s water infrastructure led to her many initiatives to improve drinking and wastewater systems. “Within the last year, major upgrades to the Ruddock Well System were completed, pumps were rehabilitated and others replaced, altitude valves were installed at four elevated storage tanks and a 12inch connection to the St. Charles Parish water system was installed in case of emergencies,” Robottom said. “A second waterline connection on River Road in
Reserve was installed and a 12 inch waterline under the Mississippi River connecting
East and West Bank treatment plants is near completion.
”
Robottom worked to create a Water Infrastructure Committee to evaluate parish water systems and develop short, intermediate and longrange action plans. “Securing safe and sustainable water sources that serve the entire parish remains a top priority, but this can only be achieved with clear goals and adequate funding,
” she said.
Wastewater pipes and manholes are being lined, generators installed and submersible pumps added to areas prone to flooding.
Drainage improvements remain in Robottom’s focus with $10.5 million in drainage projects completed and another $24 million in design or under construction.
“We have made and will continue to make progress towards solving our long-standing drainage issues, ” she said.

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Robottom has overseen millions of dollars in extensive improvements to parish parks, recreational facilities and programs. Boat launches have been improved, multi-use trails constructed, buildings renovated and lights installed at parish parks to provide more opportunities for high quality leisure and recreational activities for residents. A
Parks Master Plan, developed with substantial citizen input has been enacted to guide future development and enhancements. Parish libraries have been renovated and expanded and improvements are underway for Senior Citizen buildings.
Robottom played an integral part in securing hurricane protection by helping to move the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee Project forward.
“The final U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report is expected by the end of May. That will clear the way for local, regional, state and federal officials to fund this vital project which has been stalled for some 42 years ,” Robottom said. “We need and deserve hurricane protection, particularly in light of what we went through with Hurricane Isaac.”
Robottom led the passage of a $30 million bond issue which allowed for nearly $2 million in road improvements to be completed across the parish, with $1 million more for bridge and sidewalk repairs. Since 2010, more than $6 million has been invested in the
Road Improvement Program with repairs to almost 90 local roads. Her administration has actively pursued more than $100 million in grant funding to be used for future projects and $32 million in Community Development Block Grant Funds to assist residents, businesses and the school system with their recovery efforts.
Parish finances are once again on firm footing as the administration has received national recognition for its governmental accounting and financial reporting. For the first time in history, the finance department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation
Award for achieving nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.
“I will continue to work to strengthen the parish's financial position through a strict budgeting process, ” Robottom said. Sound management of parish finances also led to a bond rating upgrade in 2014.
Robottom has garnered national recognition for her outstanding leadership. She received the U.S. Small Business Association's Phoenix Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official and was also chosen as the nation’s 2014 County Leader of the Year by American City & County Magazine. St.
John is the fir st parish in the nation to make full use of FEMA’s National Disaster
Recovery Framework which will serve as a model for recovery efforts in other parts of

Robottom, Page 3 of 3 the country. State and federal agencies, community leaders and citizens developed recovery priorities and projects to rebuild a more resilient community. "Proven leadership matters when it come s to running parish government,” Robottom said.
Robottom was first elected in 2010 to fill an unexpired term of office and was re-elected for a full term in 2011. She is one of three female parish presidents in Louisiana.
For 23 years, Robottom worked in the St. John the Baptist Parish school system as a
Speech-Language Pathologist. She served four years as St. John’s Chief
Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer before working as Parish Manager for
Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and two years with the State of Louisiana as the Director of the
Governor’s Office of Community Programs.
Robottom earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Southwestern
Louisiana in Lafayette and acquired a Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University.
She volunteered and served in leadership positions for many professional and civic associations in the river parishes while participating in numerous organizations and advisory boards across the state. She is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional
Leadership Institute and a member of the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance that led the fight to halt devastating rate increases in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Robottom and her Husband of 32 years, Hernendez, live in LaPlace and have two adult children; Casey, a graduate of Tulane and Courtney, a Louisiana State University alumna.
“I’ve always had the desire to help people and as your parish president I have the opportunity to help my community,” Robottom said. “I’d welcome the opportunity to continue the work of the parish and see the many vital projects underway to completion.
I would sincerely appreciate your vote and support.”
R O B O T T O M