The Jefferson Parish Council meets today, for the first time in 14 years without Chris Roberts on the panel. Council members will have some housekeeping business to take care of.
Roberts was president of the council. His departure means the other at-large council member, Cynthia Lee Sheng, will likely assume that role.
"Under the charter, one of the two at-large council members has to serve as president," explained political analyst Clancy DuBos. "Cynthia Lee Sheng is the only at-large councilmember remaining."
Then there's the matter of appointing an interim member to represent parish residents until voters go to the polls this November.
"There are some important issues coming up, and we're coming into hurricane season, so I know they want to make sure they're taking care of business before the elections heat up," said DuBos.
Roberts was an influential voice in Jefferson politics, but DuBos says for now, politics will abide that vacuum.
"I don't expect them to tackle too many controversial issues," he said. "Legislative bodies, whether its Congress or the state legislature or local councils...tend not to wade into controversies right before election time."