Mike Yenni is returning to government for the first time since he left office as Jefferson Parish president in January 2020, taking the number two job in the Registrar of Voters office, according to his former campaign manager.
Yenni decided not to seek re-election to a second term as parish president in 2019 after WWL Louisiana exposed a series of sexually explicit text messages Yenni sent to a 17-year-old.
Yenni apologized for sending inappropriate messages and again acknowledged the “disappointment caused by my personal actions” when he decided not to run.
Yenni’s former campaign manager, Greg Buisson, confirmed that Registrar Dennis DiMarco plans to have Yenni start as his deputy registrar within the next two weeks.
Yenni is being trained by Phil Trupiano, who is retiring Friday after 22 years in the office.
Buisson said Yenni has some experience with the work of the registrar’s office.
“When he was mayor of Kenner he created a satellite registrar’s office in Kenner,” Buisson said. “As parish president, he expanded voting locations in lower Jefferson Parish.”
DiMarco’s office also oversaw the counting of voter signatures during a failed effort to recall Yenni in 2017.