From the Caribbean to an Aveyron village, the journey of a sub-prefect who became mayor after walking his dog

They say you can find love while walking your dog. Patrick Bernieé obtained a position as mayor. The Aveyron native from Saint-Geniez-d’olt, grandson of a Spanish immigrant who went to work in the mines in Decazeville and a couple of farmers, thought he would enjoy a peaceful retirement in Lanuéjouls, where he had settled by chance fourteen years earlier.

And all the more so since he had held positions of responsibility throughout France in labor law and in high positions of the State. He also has the habit of senior civil servants of writing his CV on seven pages, whereas in the private sector, only one is required for visibility. We will remember that he started as a labor controller, set up the first employer group in Aveyron with José Bové, and fought against labor slavery and money laundering.

In 2014, he expressed his desire to become sub-prefect to “expand my functions”. He works with the police, elected officials, mobilizes all services. “It matters when you’re mayor.” He ended his prefectural career in Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, notably to combat drug trafficking. Of these paradise islands, he admits that “it was very nice, especially the welcome of the people in Saint-Martin”, quickly moving on to his missions carried out. The return to Lanuéjouls is without regrets, “I prefer the cold”.

The difficulty of putting together a list

And that’s how he found himself “walking the dog in the morning, as usual. I liked the light at that time, I was also preparing a book of photos on this light. I met a person who said to me: You were sub-prefect, you don’t want to run for mayor? I was surprised that he knew about it. I was never there, and I have always been discreet about my work”, he says. Benoît Garric has decided, in fact, not to run for mayor.

Accustomed to responsibilities, Patrick Bernié, 66, does not procrastinate: “All things considered, why not be at the service of the municipality?” From the outset, he sets out to meet the outgoing mayor. “I wanted to be sure there were no other candidates, otherwise I would withdraw.”

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A public meeting is organized. There are only… seven in total. When some appear disillusioned, he sees it as a sign. “There were seven of us, the septet! And what’s more, two municipal councilors were leaving.” However, the team is having difficulty finding enough running mates. “I was happy because we have two 18-year-olds.” The unlabeled list is finally complete, it is entitled “Lanuéjouls, the energy of living well”. “There are all generations, different professions.”

With only one list in the municipal elections, obviously, “the chips are down”, recognizes Patrick Bernié, “but I believe that we have succeeded in establishing a principle of trust”. The participation rate is 66.21%. The fifteen councilors “unanimously” elect the former sub-prefect at the head of the list as mayor. He wasn’t sure of anything: “I kept telling the running mates, it turns out, you’re going to elect someone else,” he said, laughing.

Vice-president of intercommunality

Considering his career, it is surprising that he did not choose a larger municipality to apply. Like Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Or run for president of the Plateau de Montbazens intercommunality. Even a position as deputy or regional councilor. “I know, everyone tells me that, but I wanted to take over the town hall of Lanuéjouls.”

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He still negotiated the position of vice-president of the economy. “Lanuéjouls is the second commune in the intercommunality, we have to have an impact on the economy. And then, I would like us to extend my territorial project to the community of communes, in a logic of local development. There is an artisanal zone which is not totally occupied”.

Major projects, but also very local concerns which are now part of his daily life. The former sub-prefect thus had to manage a neighborhood conflict over an untrimmed hedge. “We established mediation.” Patrick Bernieé adapts to everything.