If you’d met me when I was young, you would never have guessed I’d be where I am. I was so shy,” says Mike Danahay, Sulphur’s mayor. “I hardly spoke when I was in the police jury, and I spoke only when necessary when I was part of the state legislature.”
Danahay’s grandparents moved to Sulphur for work, and he and his five siblings were born and raised there. All but one still live in the area. “My siblings are my best friends. We get together on Sunday evenings. My sister, who lives in Houston, comes in once a month,” Danahay says. They work together to care for their 97-year-old father, alternating morning and afternoon shifts with him.
Danahay served two terms on the police jury, from 2000 to 2008, before running for the state legislature. He was in a unique position, as most congressmen were retired or secure enough financially that they didn’t need to work. He, on the other hand, still had his day job in the office supply industry.
“My employer was extremely understanding, and we had an agreement that as long as I took care of my clients, I could keep my job.” From March through May, he spent Mondays through Thursdays in Baton Rouge. He had a place there and was paid a very humble salary. “In my scenario, I was breaking even, but it was never about that for me. For most politicians, at least at the local and state level, it really is about the service. I know people have a hard time believing that, but it’s true.”
Danahay found an interest in ethics and was the vice chair of House and Governmental Affairs. He speaks fondly of that time (10 years in total) and the people he worked with. “I got to work with great people. Willie Mount was a master at the political process, and I learned a ton from her and people like Mark McMurry, Randy Roach and Ronnie Johns, who was a real mentor to me.”
He learned quickly that dealing with a diverse group of people takes skill, and he takes pride in the fact that the group from Southwest Louisiana had a reputation for being a solid team. They may not have always agreed, but they worked well together.
Mayor’s Office
“When I decided to run for mayor my wife Daphne — she’s much smarter than me — told me, ‘You know, not everyone knows who their state legislator is, but everyone knows who their mayor is.’ And she was right.”
It was a quick transition of power, and only two weeks after the election, Chris Duncan was out, and Mike Danahay was in. “Local government is closest to the people, and what’s decided in this office can be felt on a very personal level for the citizens of Sulphur,” Danahay says. “This job is administrative. Very hands on. I’m blessed to have a very good council and a great group of 240 employees who truly do an excellent job.”
Perhaps surprising for someone in the political space, Danahay isn’t the type to seek the spotlight; to him it’s a necessary part of civil service. “I’m not the person to wear the mayor title around my chest. I don’t like titles. I believe in public service. Period. It doesn’t matter what my title is,” he says.
Danahay has been lucky to win every election he’s run in. “It’s a blessing, because if I had lost, I would have never run again. I believe you listen to your constituents, and I’m so introverted it would’ve been impossible to talk me into running again.”
One of the achievements he’s most proud of are the upgrades to the Verdine water plant. “There were some vessels that should’ve been changed out a decade or two before,” he says. “The water looked terrible. I’m sure some of our Sulphur residents will remember.”
The iron in the water started breaking through and caused significant discoloration. Interestingly enough, the bacterial testing came back fine, so although the water looked concerning, it was technically safe to drink. The city had begun replacing the old vessels when COVID shut down the facility that made them, and the facility was open only for a short time before the hurricanes halted progress again. Then the issue became critical.
“There was a lot of frustration during that time from the citizens and with social media; it was hard,” Danahay says. “A lot of it was outside of my control. I don’t ever criticize previous mayors. That’s not fair to them. They were doing the best they could at the time with the information they had. It’s my responsibility now, and that’s what I was focused on.”
All of the vessels in both water plants will soon be completely updated. From that experience, Danahay learned that he always needs to be looking ahead at what the city might need in three to five years.
Public Perception
He’s had a good time as mayor, but has it all been fun? No. He’s had to learn to mostly ignore the mudslinging that comes with elected office, though he says it’s more difficult for his wife and two daughters to do so. “There was one time I didn’t ignore it. You know, up until last year, I’d never been to SPAR water park. And my grandchildren, they call me Grandaddy, were all in town. My wife and I wanted to take them. I worked that Friday morning but took the afternoon off and someone snapped a photo of us and put it on social media. That one got to me because it included my grandchildren.”
For the most part, he says, he has his eyes forward on the city’s goals and objectives, and he says focusing on the negative is wasted effort. “Knowing you’ve made a difference in just one person’s life makes it all worth it,” he says as tears come to his eyes. “That’s what service is about,”
The mayor’s job tends to bleed past traditional hours. If the city is closed for a holiday, Danahay will still be needed at a community event. It’s not unusual for his phone to ring late into the afternoon hours.
“Right now, my life is dictated by what I do in this position, but when this is over, it’ll be time for my wife. She’s my rock. She’s my favorite person to spend time with. The city of Sulphur is a special place and what makes it special are the people.
“As far as the mayor’s office goes, there was someone here before me and there will be someone after me. There’s no point in getting full of yourself. I hope my legacy is that I’ve made a difference. That I left it better than when I got it. I want the person that comes after me to have something they can really build on.”
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