M. Larry Richard
Iberia Parish President

Iberia Parish
There’s No Place Like It

Welcome to Iberia Parish, the perfect place to build your business and family. As your Iberia Parish President, I encourage you to view the beauty of our area, shop our local boutiques and businesses, enjoy a taste of our food and hospitality, and attend our festivals.

The hottest, sweetest, oiliest, and saltiest place on Earth, I am proud to call Iberia Parish my home. Forty-one years ago, I married Iberia Parish native Kim Jolivette Richard. Together we have raised two children, become involved in the community, and are doing our part to continue to make this a great place to live and work.

With over 28 years of experience serving on various local boards and committees, I strive to bring responsible forecasting, planning, design, and a real strategy that will manage our parish dollars and bring industry and job opportunities to the families and communities of our entire parish.

Whether you’re visiting, relocating, or have been a life-long resident, I invite you to experience all that our Parish has to offer. While you are here, take time to drive along our scenic highways and embrace the small town charm and rich history that has drawn so many to Iberia Parish.

Sincerely,

– M. Larry Richard, Parish President

About M. Larry Richard

M. Larry Richard brings his business and governmental experience to Iberia Parish Government as well as his knowledge of business administration, finance, budgeting, procurement, contracts, investment recovery, communications, safety requirements, and construction. Driven with a servant’s heart and a passion to give back to the community, Parish President Richard has taken an inclusive approach to his leadership of the Parish.

Serving All of Iberia Parish

From the beginning of President Richard’s term, his drive for ethical, practical, proactive, and transparent leadership has been a contributing factor in the progress of Iberia Parish. Since taking office, his inclusive and evidence-based approach to strategic planning and project management has not only impacted the various departments of parish government, but has also strengthened communication and opportunities with surrounding parishes.

A History of Service

President Richard’s involvement in government relations and outreach started long before being elected to his current position. His love for service, community involvement, and volunteering has been expressed through various parish-wide programs. Prior to being elected Parish President, M. Larry Richard represented District 13 as a councilman for 12 consecutive years (2000 – 2012). During his tenure on the council, he served as Chairman twice and Vice Chairman three times. Throughout his terms, President Richard served both the people of District 13 and the community of Iberia Parish as a whole.

Aside from his role in Iberia Parish government, he is also a veteran, Christian, and successful business owner. A proud Veteran of the United States Army, Parish President Richard is a member of the 101st Airborne Division family, a U.S. Army Signal Corp graduate, and has received the Army Commendation Medal. He retired from Marathon Oil Company as the Supplier Diversity Consultant for Marathon’s Upstream Operations in 2002 with over 20 years of experience in corporate America and the oil and gas industry. M. Larry Richard then founded LR&A Companies, an integrated solutions company that manufactures Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) signs, provides traffic control devices, industrial construction materials, safety, and Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) supplies. He is also the founder of LR&A Specialties, a manufacturer and provider of custom signs and promotional items.

A past president of Rotary New Iberia and past vice president of Progressive Education Program, Inc. (PEPI), he has always been very involved in the community and served on several boards and committees. He is currently a board member of Iberia Industrial Development Foundation (IDF), a board member of West End Revitalization Project, and a member of the Sugarland Optimist Club. A few of his former chairman positions include: Iberia Parish Public Works Committee, Railroad Task Force Ad Hoc Committee, Iberia Parish Hurricane Flood Protection District Advisory Committee, and Solid Waste Infrastructure Committee. President Richard is also a former member of the Community and Economic Development Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and former commissioned member of the Oilfield Site Restoration Commission, appointed by former Louisiana Governor Murphy J. “Mike” Foster, Jr.

As Iberia Parish President

Elected in October 2015 and sworn in January 2016, M. Larry Richard currently oversees over 20 business entities, 325 employees, and 35 fund balances with an annual budget of approximately 80 million dollars per year. As Parish President, M. Larry Richard strives to keep the citizens of Iberia abreast of all social and financial aspects of Iberia Parish Government. Stimulating teamwork and growth, transparency, and accountability are the cornerstones of his leadership.

With a history of success across all ends of the parish, Iberia Parish Government, under the leadership of President Richard, has seen marked growth through the construction and restoration of several key structures, expansion of transportation and telecommunications services, and the emergence of Iberia Parish as a biopharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

“Iberia Parish Government must be run like a business with taxpayers getting a solid return on their investment. The Parish President’s prime responsibility must be to provide leadership that will result in decision making processes which are in the best interest of the constituency: the people who have invested their trust, taxpayers who have invested their money, and industry looking to invest in our infrastructure.”

– M. Larry Richard, Parish President

Parish President Richard’s lifetime commitment to service, community, and family has not only impacted those around him, but also rings true to the phrase:

“Be the change you want to see.”

downtown river view