http://theadvocate.com/news/3719033-123/council-bids-face-challenge
COUNCIL BIDS FACE CHALLENGE
Two candidates for East Baton Rouge Metro Council are facing lawsuits in state court that seek to have their names removed from the Nov. 6 ballot.
Gerry Juneau, a resident of District 12, filed suit Friday alleging that incumbent Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois is ineligible to run for re-election because he lives outside the district.
Friday was the last day challenges could be filed against candidates to have their names removed from the ballot.
Juneau said he has nothing against Bourgeois but thinks he should run in District 10, where he owns a house. “I just don’t think it’s right,” Juneau said. “If he wants to be a councilman so bad, why doesn’t he run in District 10?” Bourgeois has owned a home at 2195 Kleinert Avenue since 1988, which is in District 10. But he represents and is running for re-election in District 12, where he leases a home. District 12 includes the Kenilworth, Magnolia Woods, Pollard Estates, Southdowns and Valley Park neighborhoods. Bourgeois lists the leased home, 1225 Highland Park, as his official residency in qualifying papers and on his voter registration card.
Bourgeois also claimed homestead exemption at the Kleinert home until 2009 when he became a Metro Councilman. “It’s fairly clear that the homestead exemption was canceled because you must be registered to vote where you have homestead exemption, and he would have had to register to vote at Kleinert,” Juneau’s attorney Donald Hodge said. “That would have been District 10, not 12.” Bourgeois said he doesn’t spend the majority of his time at any of his properties. Records show that he pays the sewer utility bills at his Kleinert home and a man named Ryan Salario pays the sewer utility bills at the Highland Park home.
Bourgeois owns two George’s restaurants in District 12, one on Perkins Road and another on Highland Road.
Bourgeois questioned whether the suit was being filed by supporters of his best-financed competitor, John Delgado, or by someone in the food truck business, since he proposed earlier this year an ordinance to regulate the food truck industry. The ordinance failed. Bourgeois said he is not breaking any law and is confident that he’ll prevail in court, but joked that being disqualified would be a favor. “This is great news for me,” he said. “God bless Mr. Juneau.”
If Bourgeois is disqualified, then Delgado, a Republican, will face Rose Carey, a Democrat, in the election.Welch’s hearing will be Monday before Judge Bill Morvant and Bourgeois’ hearing will be Tuesday before Judge Tim Kelley.
Gerry Juneau, a resident of District 12, filed suit Friday alleging that incumbent Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois is ineligible to run for re-election because he lives outside the district.
Friday was the last day challenges could be filed against candidates to have their names removed from the ballot.
Juneau said he has nothing against Bourgeois but thinks he should run in District 10, where he owns a house. “I just don’t think it’s right,” Juneau said. “If he wants to be a councilman so bad, why doesn’t he run in District 10?” Bourgeois has owned a home at 2195 Kleinert Avenue since 1988, which is in District 10. But he represents and is running for re-election in District 12, where he leases a home. District 12 includes the Kenilworth, Magnolia Woods, Pollard Estates, Southdowns and Valley Park neighborhoods. Bourgeois lists the leased home, 1225 Highland Park, as his official residency in qualifying papers and on his voter registration card.
Bourgeois also claimed homestead exemption at the Kleinert home until 2009 when he became a Metro Councilman. “It’s fairly clear that the homestead exemption was canceled because you must be registered to vote where you have homestead exemption, and he would have had to register to vote at Kleinert,” Juneau’s attorney Donald Hodge said. “That would have been District 10, not 12.” Bourgeois said he doesn’t spend the majority of his time at any of his properties. Records show that he pays the sewer utility bills at his Kleinert home and a man named Ryan Salario pays the sewer utility bills at the Highland Park home.
Bourgeois owns two George’s restaurants in District 12, one on Perkins Road and another on Highland Road.
Bourgeois questioned whether the suit was being filed by supporters of his best-financed competitor, John Delgado, or by someone in the food truck business, since he proposed earlier this year an ordinance to regulate the food truck industry. The ordinance failed. Bourgeois said he is not breaking any law and is confident that he’ll prevail in court, but joked that being disqualified would be a favor. “This is great news for me,” he said. “God bless Mr. Juneau.”
If Bourgeois is disqualified, then Delgado, a Republican, will face Rose Carey, a Democrat, in the election.Welch’s hearing will be Monday before Judge Bill Morvant and Bourgeois’ hearing will be Tuesday before Judge Tim Kelley.
2) Comment by Terd Handler - 08/25/2012
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