Eddie Langlinais sworn in as new Vermilion Parish Sheriff

The last time someone could say, “There is a new sheriff in Vermilion Parish,” was 20 years ago when Mike Couvillon took office — before Couvillon, another 20 years had passed since Ray Lemaire was sworn in.
For only the fourth time in 60 years, Vermilion Parish has a new sheriff: Eddie Langlinais from Delcambre.
On Monday, Langlinais was sworn in by Judge Jonathan Perry and Langlinais’s new department heads were sworn in by Judge Laurie Hulin.
At Black’s in Abbeville, Langlinais told the crowd that he had wanted to be the Sheriff of Vermilion Parish since high school. In 1979, he won the Sheriff position at Delcambre High School, but he lost the parish government day election.
In high school, Langlinais was brought by his mother, Verlie, to meet then-Vermilion Parish Sheriff Euda Delcambre, who was from Delcambre. Langlinais told the crowd that Sheriff Euda gave him words of encouragement, and at that moment, he knew he wanted to be sheriff. Langlinais began his journey to become the Sheriff in the parish at the age of 20, and started working in Iberia Parish.
Three years later, he was hired by Euda Delcambre in 1984.
He was also hired by the U.S. Marshal’s Office in 1991 and worked in New Orleans as a United States Marshal. 
In 1994, he worked for the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Lafayette until he retired in 2019. After retiring, he joined the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office to lead the investigation department, with the intention of running for the Sheriff’s office in the future.
In 2020, a close friend, Chuck Landry, called him and changed the course of his life in a quick moment. Landry suggested to Langlinais that since Couvillon was not seeking reelection, he should consider running for Sheriff.
“It seemed like my stars had finally aligned, and my opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream had arrived,” Sheriff Langlinais told the crowd at the swearing-in. “It took a lot of hard work and determination to get to where I am today.”
Langlinais thanked former Sheriff Mike Couvillon for helping with the transition, and he also thanked his campaign staff, who helped him with his election over the last three years, as well as the Vermilion Parish voters.
“Thank you to all of the hard-working, honest people of Vermilion Parish. Thank you for having faith, believing in me, and entrusting me as your Sheriff.”
He wanted to express his gratitude to his mother, Virlie, and his father, the late Noicy Langlinais.
  “I want to thank them for their guidance and support and for making me the man I am today.”
The final person he thanked was his wife, Lyndi, who was by his side, knocking on doors in 100-degree weather, and attending every function.
“She helped guide me through a three-year experience we will never forget. She was my campaign secretary, my campaign finance clerk, and organizer.
“Most of all, she was my partner, best friend, and wife.”