[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta says cancer removed

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta says cancer removed
Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on May 19, 2014 at 2:05 PM, updated May 19, 2014 at 2:23 PM

St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta said the skin cancer on his nose
was removed last Thursday (May 15) and that the next day he "was admitted to
the hospital where the plastic surgeon took over."

Peralta said that completing the plastic surgery likely will require another
surgery in two weeks, and that he should know more on Friday (May 23) about
when he might be able to return to work.

While the cancer was removed, Peralta said "It was unfortunately worse than
expected."

"Normally basal cell carcinoma is on the surface area, but in this case it
had invaded both the muscle tissue and cartilage in the nose," Peralta wrote
in an email.

Peralta said last week that he expected to be out of the office any-where
from two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the procedures and his
ability to recover. Peralta originally announced that he had basal cell
carcinoma during a March 10 staff meeting, then confirmed that diagnosis
with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.

In the interim, St. Bernard Finance Director Ross Gonzales has become the
acting parish president, and former 4th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge David
Gorbaby, who has been volunteering to perform chief adminis-trative officer
duties since December, is continuing to provide his assistance.

Peralta's medical leave of absence comes as he faces a charge of sexual
battery of his wife, related to her accusation that he raped her Oct. 27.
Peralta has said the sex was consensual and that he didn't rape his wife.
Peralta is also the subject of a nascent recall effort.