(L – R) Compton Councilwoman Lillie Dobson, 2nd District; Mayor Eric Perrodin;
and Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux, 3rd District are victorious in Compton’s election.
Ms. Shon of D’ Angelo’s Photos
New terms is a wrap for Hub City leaders
After first giving Compton the moniker of ‘Birthing A New,’ reelected Mayor Eric J. Perrodin told his supporters it’s now time to raise the child after he won his third term in a landside vote on Tuesday April 21.
He pledged among his goals to bring back the city’s own police department.
“I think it’s important to have officers from the community who have a stake in the community,” he said.
The longtime Compton native not only spoke from his heart, he spoke from his experience as a Compton Police officer himself, but would not castigate the Sheriff’s Department which has since been contracted to the city since the local force was abandoned.
“I’m not knocking the Sheriff, but you have to have a stake in the community. You need to live here, not just for three or six months.”
Perrodin has ascended from the ranks of the city’s department of recreation and parks into government, the police department where he was a narcotics detective and now mayor.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever become mayor of the city I love, but God has directed my path and prepared me to be successful at this,” he added.
A low voter turnout did not deter the momentum of council members Barbara J. Calhoun in District 1, Lillie Dobson in District 2 and Yvonne Arceneaux in District 3.
Arceneaux was first elected to city council in 1993, while Calhoun and Dobson took office in 2003.
Dobson has vowed to continue to earn the trust of the citizens of Compton and fight to get Compton Community College back.
She says that being reelected means everything to her. “I’ve been here for six years now and my goal is to continue doing more to keep business doors open, reduce crime and upgrade our school system.”
Arceneaux is the longest serving member of the council since retiring from the Compton Unified School District where she worked for 26 years.
“I want to thank the Sentinel for all of its support and for endorsing us. It means a lot to us,” Arceneaux stated.
However, her primary focus will be completing developments that have been promised to the citizens of Compton.
“There are projects that I would like to see complete. Stores, the shopping center and the new homes that are sitting on 18 acres,” she said.
Arceneaux replaced Assemblyman Isadore Hall as Water District Director, but also want a unified board reestablished.
Appointed incumbent Amos Clay was embroiled in a dog-fight with businessman Willie Kemp, Willie O. Jones and Lillie P. Darden for the City Council District 4 seat in a race that was divided by less than 100 votes between them at press time. A run-off between the top two candidates will decide the two year council term.
Appointed City Attorney Craig J. Cornwell, City Clerk Alita Godwin and City Treasurer Douglas Sanders each were chosen by voters.
