Par
Jean-Claude Bonnemère
Published on
Nov 5, 2024 at 6:01 p.m.
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“I am CartesianI rely on factual situations, I try to feed off everyone's good ideas! » declares Jean-Claude Fouché, president of Cauvaldor (Causses and Dordogne Valley community of communes). Meeting with an atypical politician, who does not forget where he comes from.
A lover of the territory
To the question “what interests you outside of politics?” », Jean-Claude Fouché places first his love for the territory of the north of the Lot where he was born and in which he feels deeply rooted.
Born in Cazillac, like his five brothers, aged 64, married, father of three daughters, retired for two years, Jean-Claude Fouché could have spent peaceful days reserving time to go on a trip, make a go hunting for woodcock or wild boar, or indulge in picking mushrooms, porcini mushrooms or chanterelles, which he particularly likes. A fine gourmet, he does not fear the heat of the stove, especially when it comes to entertaining family and friends around grilled meats… Instead, one thing leading to another, he finds himself today mayor of Lanzac and president of Cauvaldor; two mandates that excite him, even though they prove “extremely demanding”.
Why this jump into politics?
“Maybe something to do with genes!” » replies Jean-Claude Fouché, to explain his commitment to public life. He mentions his father who died last March, a leading professional manager on the departmental agricultural scene and at the level of his commune where he was also mayor. “In a certain way, through his way of being and his commitments, our father passed on to us the taste of being interested in the functioning of society,” observes Mr. Fouché. “In any case, for my part, I have always taken a great interest in current affairs in general in France and around the world,” he continues. It is in this context and with this state of mind that he first got involved in municipal life in Lanzac in 2007, before being elected mayor in 2014 and re-elected in 2020. “Being elected mayor it's not trivial, when all of a sudden you find yourself faced with an astronomical amount of responsibilities on your back; we would end up feeling responsible for everything, until the dog dies in the street! » Before retiring in 2022, Jean-Claude Fouché carried out his professional activity within a bank, to which he is grateful for having made it easier for him to carry out his elected mandate, in particular by allowing him to use of the day pass. Especially since from the moment you are elected mayor, in small towns you find yourself ipso facto community advisor and member of commissions… “The community mandate allows you to broaden your vision of the territory, at the same time as the network of relationships is enriched; it is always interesting to be inspired by good ideas here and there; the mayor must not retreat into his municipality,” notes Mr. Fouché. Especially since the community of municipalities has broadened its field of competence, on subjects directly affecting the lives of those administered and impacting municipal life.
At the head of Cauvaldor, the largest community of communes in the Lot, with 77 communes, 48,000 inhabitants, 104 community advisors, Jean-Claude Fouché, speaks of an atypical SME, due to the characteristics of the territory. In fact, there is no dominant municipality, which would centralize most of the services or businesses, as is the case with the community of municipalities of Cahors, Figeac… Across the territory of Cauvaldor, no “monopolizing” municipality. », but several municipalities which play a driving role in their respective living areas. “We have imposed an obligation on ourselves to distribute our investments across the entire territory; we must think globally while ensuring balance,” explains Mr. Fouché. Thus, the health centers, the Maisons France services, were established with the aim of ensuring a network of the territory. “This way of proceeding suits me well, because I am attached to the fairness of the distribution of investments; the development of the territory must be carried out in the most harmonious way possible! » insists the president. As much as he says he is ready to deal with all political sensitivities, there is no question for him of making a pact with the extremes, whether left or right.
What about the president's political label?
“It’s true, I have never shown myself politically, because I have never practiced political politics” indicates Jean-Claude Fouché, who says he is saddened by the image that elected officials project at the national level. He castigates clan wars and personal stooges, while in his eyes there should be no other objective than working to serve the needs of France, of the populations, more precisely. However, the president of Cauvaldor does not hide the fact that he feels close to the European Democratic and Social Rally (RDSE) represented in the Lot, by senator Raphaël Daubet. “The general interest must take precedence over the political sensitivities of everyone, even though it seems to me to be too often flouted! » he adds. Candidate for the next departmental elections? No decision made at this time. “What is certain, however, is that I have no national ambition for anything! » he assures. However, the elected official does not close the door to other elections… However, at the level of Cauvaldor not all political positions are neutral. “I start from the principle that there are good ideas on both the right and the left and when you are dealing with open people it is possible to work intelligently! » he assures. As proof, his collaboration with the three previous presidents of Cauvaldor, who did not have the same political label, posed no problem for him. Jean-Claude Fouché favors dialogue and the search for consensus and his election did not give rise to changes in vice-presidents. “Working with the general interest as a driving force remains the course that I have set for myself! » he adds.
Strengthen a dynamic and prosperous economic fabric
Economically, the territory of Cauvaldor is full of riches that are often unknown outside of Andros. Both in the agri-food industry with La Quercynoise and in high-tech industry, the region has a series of flagships: Aventis, Diace, Fives, HPrat and HMI, Thiot Ingénierie, Sermati and many others… This offers a rate of employment, well above that of the Lot Department and the Occitanie Region. In this area, Jean-Claude Fouché relies on Cauvaldor-expansion, the only economic agency serving a community of municipalities in this department. Objectives: consolidate achievements, support business transfer operations, welcome new arrivals and develop the attractiveness of the territory, because “it is becoming difficult to recruit for certain companies”, particularly at senior executive level. An element revealing the concern on this subject: two buses provide the shuttle between Brive and the Gramat Study Center, every day, for the transport of high-level engineers domiciled in Corrèze.
Jean-Claude Fouché keeps a keen eye on agriculture by seeking to carry out actions to support farmers in partnership with the Chamber of Agriculture.
As for the health card, Jean-Claude Fouché considers that the situation is not getting worse, even if competition to attract doctors and other health professionals has now spread to the whole of France. “For the moment, we are in a less difficult situation than elsewhere,” he declares. A service dedicated to the attractiveness of the territory makes it possible to recruit doctors and the medicine option at the Jean Lurçat high school in Saint-Céré should bear fruit within a few years. In the meantime, a medical student is considering moving soon to the north of the Lot, where he is from, and it is a godsend. Furthermore, two students from Saint-Céré are entering a course of veterinary studies, a professional sector which is also suffering. Nothing is simple, but the view of a “wise man” at the head of Cauvaldor probably favors the concentration of energies on the objectives to be achieved, rather than maintaining vain political quarrels or parochial wars!
Little secrets from Jean-Claude Fouché
What would you like to achieve as president of Cauvaldor?
It is important to me to structure Cauvaldor, so that after the next deadlines of 2026, a new team can find the best organized community of municipalities possible. This objective seems essential to me, because we started from six existing communities of municipalities with disparate organizations to form only one and staff who had to train and adapt to the new structure. For most staff, this change was accepted in a very positive manner. Cauvaldor needs to be well structured, so that our 200 employees carry out their tasks with competence and efficiency, in the interest of all residents. To these personnel are added as many at the level of the Intercommunal Social Action Center, working with nursing homes and other social structures. Cauvaldor needs to rely on supervisory skills in the field of personnel management, with departments bringing together 60 to 80 people. All this must be well oiled!
Who would you cite who has had an impact on you and who inspires you in your commitments?
Someone who meant a lot in my life? I will first mention my father with whom we talked a lot about politics. I can say that he instilled in me the notion of the general interest, the values of work, respect for all, attachment to the territory, in which he himself was greatly involved, particularly in the agricultural world where he exercised multiple responsibilities.
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