BREAKING: Recall petition against Elton mayor can proceed, judge rules
Published 10:50 am Friday, December 15, 2023
- Elton Mayor Kesia Skinner Lemoine
A district court judge has ruled that a recall election against Elton Mayor Kesia Lemoine can proceed.
The decision, handed down during a brief hearing Friday, rejects Lemoine’s request for an injunction to halt the recall election and gives her until Dec. 28 to refile the lawsuit.
A proclamation calling for the election was issued earlier this week by Gov. John Bel Edwards with the Secretary of State’s Office setting the election for April 27.
District Judge Steve Gunnell also dismissed Jeff Davis Parish Registrar of Voters Joanna Blair from the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeking the temporary restraining order and an injunction to stop the recall election was filed Monday in the 31st Judicial District Court on behalf of Lemoine, after questions were raised concerning discrepancies with addresses of those who signed the petition seeking to remove Lemoine from office.
The lawsuit also questioned the competency of Balir as registrar of voters claiming she failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the recall petition.
The lawsuit named Gov. John Bel Edwards, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and Jeff Davis Parish Registrar of Voters Joann Blair as defendants. Petition organizers Jared Trahan and Marilyn Granger were also listed as defendants.
