One week ago, the Hammond electorate voted in a new mayor for the first time in 12 years and Pete Panepinto won by a landslide.

With only 43 percent of Hammond voters going out to vote, Panepinto was able to win by 59 percent in a three-candidate runoff.  

Twelve years ago, Panepinto ran for mayor ending up in fourth but decided to endorse Mayor Mason Foster.

As Foster’s allotted time came closer to an end, Foster was able to openly endorse Panepinto. 

Before the voting had started, Foster had promised the public that there would be an open transition between the changes in administration, no matter who became mayor.

According to Action News 17, “Foster was among the first on the scene at the Panepinto campaign party, celebrating the new mayor’s victory.” 

Panepinto had started off by working in Foster’s administration as the city’s building department supervisor and became Hammond’s Director of Administration. 

In an interview between Panepinto and Action News 17, Panepinto told of how working under Foster for the past two years has allowed him to “be fully engaged in the day to day operation of all aspects of the city government.” 

According to Action News 17, outside of being the Director of Administration, Panepinto has owned and operated four local businesses, currently serves as the President of the Tangipahoa Parish Homebuilder’s Association, is a member of the Hammond Industrial Development Board and is part of the Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association. 

Before Panepinto begins his term of office, he told Action News 17 on the night of the announcement of his campaign win that he will continue to serve Foster and help him in any way possible as Foster finishes up his term in office. 

Also, Panepinto believes that the good foundation of administration is already in place in office from Foster and Panepinto plans to make no changes to the current administration. 

In the interview with Action News 17 on the night of Panepinto’s winning, Panepinto explained how one of his goals is to revisit the master plan of the city’s physical plant. 

“We need to plan for the future,” said Panepinto. “We need to slowly tear down these old buildings and replace them with new structures. This is a long process and isn’t something that will happen over four years.”

On the hammondchamber.org page, Panepinto explained during the Hammond Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire some of the other goals that he plans to take into action. 

“My priority is for an improvement in our Wastewater plant on C M Fagan,” said Panepinto. “The city has put millions of dollars into the plant and is putting millions more into the miles and miles of pipes that flow to the plant.” 

One of the other issues that Panepinto plans to improve in Hammond is the issue of petty theft. 

In an interview with Action News 17, Panepinto said, “As far as murder rates, we don’t have a problem. It is a safe town. But as far as petty theft, it’s out of control. I formed a street crime unit that we took all their reflective badges off and they go into stealth mode. But we need to get in there and stop a lot of this petty theft. “

Panepinto also plans to crack down on those who commit petty theft and send them to jails out of town if Hammond prison facilities lack the availability of space required for incarceration.  

Also, as Director of Administration, Panepinto has started a new division of the Police Department which is the Street Crimes Unit. This unit has the specific task of focusing on high crime areas and is composed of officers who will work under the direction and supervision of the Administration. 

From a pilot’s point of view, Panepinto told the importance of increasing the size of the Hammond airport during the Hammond Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire.

“As a pilot, I see every day the necessity for having and expanding our airport. Just the fact that we now have the Army National Guard stationed there proves its value [that brought in about 100 jobs.] It is an economic development tool that many other areas of the state would love to have. When the air control tower is opened in November, we will have much more corporate traffic for people looking to our area.”

Panepinto has more goals he plans to implement once the term starts but is assured the people in office will help to pave the path to meet these goals. 

In Panepinto’s interview with Action News 17, he was able to explain what his goal as mayor would be.

“I am the type of person that expects people to do their job,” said Panepinto. “It is about lifting people up and encouraging them to do the right thing and training them and stepping in when you have to, allowing them to do their jobs. I am going to be a vociferous person communicating with my people but let them do their jobs.”

Panepinto will take on the full responsibility of mayor on Jan. 1st 2015.