New Faces in City Hall

With qualifying next week in Central’s 2014 municipal elections, it appears that Central City government will have a different look when new officials are sworn in July 1.

As of now, four of the city’s seven elected officials will not seek reelection:

• Mayor Mac Watts

• Police Chief Doug Browning

• City Council members Dr. Tony LoBue and Louis DeJohn

Those seeking reelection are Council members Ralph Washington, the mayor pro-tem, Wayne Messina, and Aaron Moak.

The candidates for mayor are Dave Freneaux and Jr. Shelton.  For police chief, the candidates are Kerry Clark and James Salsbury.  Candidates for City Council (vote for five) are incumbents Washington, Messina, and Moak and newcomers Kim Fralick, John Vance, Harry Rauls, Shane Evans, Eric Franks, Jason Ellis, and

Mike Gardner.

Qualifying is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily from Wednesday, Feb. 12 to Friday, Feb. 14 at the Clerk of Court’s office downtown and on Coursey Blvd.  It will also be held from 8 a.m.to 12 noon Wednesday at Central City Hall.

Additional candidates could decide to run, and some of those candidates who say they plan to run could change their minds.

Candidates will be involved in a flurry of campaign activities between now and election day, Saturday, April 5.  Some candidates are already going door to door, and most are attending fundraising events, receptions, and candidate forums.

On Feb. 13, most of the candidates will appear at the endorsement meeting of the East Baton Rouge Republican Parish Executive Committee at 6 p.m. at the Metro Council Chamber.

The Republican Women of Central plan a candidate forum on Monday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Sammy’s.  For information, contact Besy Barnes or Jennifer Starnes at (225)333-0018.

Mayoral candidate Jr. Shelton has announced he will not be able to attend because of a previously scheduled fundraising event.  Shelton’s event is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at MePa’s Diner, 6632 Sullivan Road across from Oak Point Grocery.  The event is $100 a couple.  Mail contributions to 7437 Conestoga Dr., Central 70739.

Council candidate Kim Fralich has two events scheduled: 3 to 5 Saturday, Feb. 15 at Me Pa’s Diner, 6643 Sullivan and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17 at American Farmhouse on Hooper Road.

The Central Community Alliance plans a candidate forum for March 6.

The primary election will be Saturday, April 5, and the runoff election, if necessary, will be Saturday, May 3.

In the primary, voters will vote for Mayor, Police Chief, and five candidates for City Council.  If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will occur.  In the multi-candidate Council race, a number of unusual things can happen, including more than five candidates receiving a majority.  In that case, the top five will be elected.