Tammany Politics

Tammany Politics

Friday, April 20, 2007

By Charlie Chapple
St. Tammany Bureau

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A movement is afoot to organize a parishwide coalition of homeowners, non-profit and civic groups to form an united voice to address local issues in St. Tammany.

Those behind the movement, including Rick Wilke of the Covington area, have been working since last fall to create "Tammany Together." But they're keeping details of the new organization under wraps until a news conference scheduled for May 7.

Organizers include members of the Association of Associations, a coalition of about 25 homeowners groups in western St. Tammany, the Goodbee Civic Association and the League of Women Voters of St. Tammany.

Organizers say the parish has often been divided between east and west, city and unincorporated areas, and suburban and rural areas, and newcomers and longtime residents.

Tammany Together will be a non-profit, non-partisan organization that "will identify issues of importance to the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, to educate its members and others on these issues, and to exert a positive influence to their outcome by speaking out with a unified voice," according to the group's mission statement.

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(If you have a suggestion for Tammany Politics, contact reporter Charlie Chapple in Covington at cchapple@timespicayune.com or (985) 898-4828, or reporter Christine Harvey in Slidell at charvey@timespicayune.com or (985) 645-2853.)