Ourso will seek re-election, will not run for sheriff

Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr. announced today that despite dozens of calls from residents asking him to run for sheriff, that he will remain as Iberville Parish President and will seek re-election this fall.

“I have been overwhelmed with calls to run for sheriff, but I have decided that this is where I belong,” Ourso said. “I have a hospital to get built for this parish, and I want to finish what I have started.”

Iberville Sheriff Brent Allain made a surprise announcement on Tuesday that he would not seek re-election this fall, fueling speculation that Ourso would bypass another term as Iberville Parish president and run for sheriff. Ourso’s father, the late Sheriff Jessel Ourso, served as Iberville sheriff for many years and Mitchell Ourso worked as a deputy many years ago, prior to starting a trucking business.

“My father was in law enforcement,” Mitchell Ourso said, “I am in government. I promised parish voters that I would run for re-election if they overturned term limits in the election last year, and that is what I intend to do.”

“I sincerely appreciate and am humbled by all the calls of support, but after thinking it over and discussing it with my family, I have decided that I want to continue serving the people of Iberville as parish president and will ask for their vote in October to do that.”