First of all, tell us a little about your education, career, and work experience:
I grew up and went to High School in Lafayette and New Orleans. My Dad worked in the Oil and Gas Industry. I’ve had many, many jobs since I grew up in a different time, when you could work as a teenager. I worked manual labor mowing yards and businesses, hauling hay, offshore work, youth pastor, janitor, campus ministry, cafeteria worker, Census Bureau follow-up, real estate, sales jobs, sales manager, etc. I’m forgetting some of them.
I came to LA Tech and Ruston over 40 years ago, though it was quite a different place than it is now. Both have developed into friendly, productive places where there are many things to do and enjoy. There is nowhere else I would rather live. I’ve lived in Ward 5 in Ruston for about 25 years.
After graduating from Tech with an MBA, I spent time working in sales in Texas and in the Shreveport area. Eventually, I was able to move back to Ruston and was working in the newspaper industry. Later, I was able to take a position at Grambling State University teaching Marketing in the College of Business. I did that for 19 years.
While I was teaching, I became interested in Real Estate. I obtained my Real Estate license and eventually my Broker’s license, and I’ve been able to help a lot of people sell and find homes and properties for over 20 years. I’ve also been able to buy and sell some properties and fix up some bad ones and turn them into good ones. I have a few rental properties that I keep in good condition and rent for fair prices. I’ve learned a lot!
About 5 years ago, I was contacted by someone at Tech about an open position in the College of Business. I wasn’t really thinking about working there, but this individual insisted that I would be “perfect” for the position. It ended up being true. I took the job 4 years ago and have absolutely loved it. I’ve been able to take the things I’ve learned in Business, Government and Real Estate and the relationships I’ve had along the way and share them with these eager Tech students. I absolutely love teaching at Tech and working with the students.
What are some personal things people might want to know about you and your family?
This is where I have to be careful! I am one of those people who can tell more about myself and my family than perhaps the rest of my family would like me to share. Lol! So let me tell you some generalities here.
Many people in Ruston knew me when I lost my first wife in 1999 to cancer. So many people helped me during that difficult time with six small kids. I remarried and now have eight beautiful, awesome children. Some are grown and gone, and others live at home. I have eight grandchildren too. These grown children live in far-away places that I enjoy visiting when I get the chance.
What I am not shy or hesitant to share is my faith in Jesus Christ. I am a follower of Him and take all decisions seriously regarding my walk with Him. I love all people because He loves me, even though I don’t deserve it.
I like time with my family and friends, making new friends, traveling, and I like to fish in my backyard. I have a small lake that I live on, and I find it peaceful to fish off the shore and catch a few fish.
What made you decide to run for alderman?
Sometimes I hesitate to tell people this because it sounds cliché or even made up. Over 12 years ago, I kept having these thoughts of running for office, but I didn’t want to run. I am the kind of person who likes people to like me. I was afraid I might become a polarizing individual who had to have hard-core opinions about everything and offend people. But I was hearing this still, small voice in my head that was encouraging me to run against someone that I considered a friend. After a long, argumentative time with God, I gave in and decided to run. Gradually, the idea of running grew on me, as well as the passion to visit with residents all over Ward 5. I learned a lot just talking to people and hearing their concerns. I accepted the call and felt fortunate to win against two excellent individuals.
So you’ve been an Alderman for 12 years now. What are some of your biggest accomplishments?
There are too many things to list here, but I’ll share some of the ones that really stick out to me and to so many people in Ruston.
The first would be working as a team with Mayor Ronny Walker. This board of Aldermen works together. We work out our differences and put some of them aside for the good of the community. All over the state and country, we see divided people, and then the people suffer. We have prospered and have been successful because we work things out together for the benefit of all.
This may sound overly religious, but it seems as though God has given this city a special favor in some kind of way. We have received grants and welcomed new businesses that seem to be a blessing from God. I find myself shaking my head when I hear the good news. I just thank God.
I have loved seeing the Ruston and Tech connection. We are truly a college town working together. It’s not always been that way. Students love Ruston and Ruston loves Tech, mostly. There are always some unhappy people.
We recovered from a horrific tornado and hurricane in our area, and we have finally almost fully recovered. It was hard and long, but people persevered.
Ward 5 has had much of its water and sewer lines repaired and replaced since I’ve been on the board. We still have some areas that need work, but much has been done.
I love the businesses that have come to Ruston, with too many to name. Some game changers are the Chase Document Center, Buc-ee’s, Willis-Knighton Health Care, Radiance Technologies, and so many locally owned new restaurants and businesses. These add jobs, revenues and shopping options for the community.
The Tarbutton I-20 interchange was huge, and it took real perseverance. Now only time will tell how much development is going to open up there.
We’ve had a clean audit every year with no issues. Our finances are strong and reserves are strong. We are careful not to overspend despite so many needs in the departments and city.
The Ruston Sports Complex is there because people voted for it. It’s a huge plus for Ruston and for our economy.
The many new housing developments, both single-family home and multifamily housing developments, have opened up more housing for all and have made some of the older rental properties affordable and available because of the additional housing. There was a time in the past when you couldn’t find housing in Ruston in August. That is no longer true.
I’m personally really excited about the skate park that’s about to open. I’ve got a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old who have been waiting half their lives for that to open! It will be soon!
Another personal favorite is the renaming of Huckleberry Trails Park to Marie Riggs Park. She worked so hard for so long on that park as our alderwoman, and I was glad to push to have it renamed in honor of Marie Riggs.
Why are you running again?
That’s a good question. I spent a significant amount of time thinking about it and praying about it. I didn’t want to just keep on doing it because I did it in the past and I enjoyed the success that the city has had. I prayed again and weighed it seriously, and I feel like I’m supposed to run. We have a team on the City Council that is working together and making real progress in Ruston. We need to continue that. The voters will decide if they want me, and I’m fine with that.
What would you like to accomplish in the next 4 years?
Security is becoming a bigger and bigger issue, so it’s at the top of my mind right now. There are too many shootings in Ruston. I want to do all I can to help the Mayor and Police Chief do their jobs. Some of these offenders are arrested and getting free too easily. We need a comprehensive plan to have law and order in Ruston. Too many young people are getting shot. It’s not OK, and it should never be OK. Our parks and neighborhoods should be safe.
After security, I want to see continued, stable growth with a plan that will last for the next generation. I want to see continued investment and growth in businesses in Ruston. We’ve seen great success, but we need to pass it on to people who are able to continue to grow and prosper in every area.
I want to see Barnett Springs taken over by the city of Ruston and completely redone with walking paths and biking trails. We’ve done the engineering study. We have a promise from the State, but I want to see it happen sooner rather than later.
I’ve been advocating for sidewalks and stop signs on Maple Drive. I’ve waited while other streets got the sidewalks. It’s closer to being our turn to get them. We also need stop signs because too many people drive too fast on Maple, especially since it was overlaid and is now smooth. I want to slow the drivers down who are cutting through trying to make a shortcut. These are some of the things that I’m looking for in the next 4 years.
Do you have additional questions for Bruce Siegmund? Please send them to BruceSiegmund@gmail.com, and they can be answered in the next Q&A.
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The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.
