2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 25
BY SENATOR ERDEY AND REPRESENTATI VE POPE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend Mayor James Durbin on his retirement following twelve years as the mayor
of Denham Springs, Louisiana, and on his significant contributions to the growth and
development of the city.
WHEREAS, James Durbin served his community as a member of the Denham
Springs City Council, beginning with his election in 1989, and as the mayor of Denham
Springs, beginning with his election in 2002, serving three consecutive terms and retiring
at the end of his term at midnight on December 31, 2014, having chosen not to seek
reelection to a fourth term in 2014; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Durbin was born in 1947 to Erlo and Mildred Durbin, graduated
from Denham Springs High School in 1965, and continued his academic studies at Louisiana
State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Durbin received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola School of
Law and began practice as an attorney in Denham Springs in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Durbin has been married to Maurice Cockerham for thirty-two
years and the couple has raised two children, Bradley and Berkley, both of whom are
graduates of Louisiana State University and Tulane Law School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Durbin began serving as mayor of Denham Springs in 2003,
following his twelve years of service as a member of the city council and, considering
himself to be a "hands-on" mayor and administrator, he can, justifiably, be proud of the city's
residential growth, commercial expansion, infrastructure improvements, and quality-of-life
advancements that have taken place during his time as mayor; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Durbin led the city of Denham Springs, in cooperation with
federal and state funding sources, to complete important infrastructure projects, including
the building of an award-winning sewer treatment facility, the development of two new
water wells for the city, the expansion and improvement of both the water system and the
sewer system, and he was instrumental in obtaining federal funding for sidewalk
enhancement and lighting in the Historic Preservation District of the city; and
WHEREAS, with James Durbin as mayor, Denham Springs has benefitted from
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numerous important highway and road improvement projects, including the Range Avenue
Corridor Bypass; the South Range Avenue/Interstate 12 project, which provided upgraded
access to the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World project; and the widening and enhancement of
Florida Boulevard from the Livingston Parish line to River Road, including the elevated
Amite River Bridge; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Durbin's administration managed to operate the city and provide
services during an unprecedented national recession while amassing a half-million dollar
surplus, and the city has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting, a recognition conferred by the Government Financial Officers Association of the
United States and Canada for thirteen consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, under the proactive leadership of Mayor Durbin, numerous economic
development projects were undertaken with many completed and continuing additional
projects, including development of a new "hotel row" on Rushing Road, bond funding and
a new sewerage district that opened new areas for both residential and commercial
development, development of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and a major shopping center
complex, new hotels, and Spring Park Plaza shopping center expansion with numerous retail
outlets involved; and
WHEREAS, with his return to private life, James Durbin's involvement in numerous
civic and quality-of-life endeavors will continue to benefit the citizens of Denham Springs
and enrich their lives.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Mayor James Durbin on his retirement following twelve years as the mayor of
Denham Springs, Louisiana, and on his significant contributions to the growth and
development of that city.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mayor James Durbin of Denham Springs, Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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