Central City News

 Before qualifying began, political pundits said the election of two new District Court judges from the northern district of the parish (Baker, Central, and Zachary) would go strictly down racial lines, creating a virtual dead heat that could go either way. Now that qualifying is closed and candidates are out there campaigning, something rather unexpected […]

The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish has made its first round of endorsements. These endorsements are for races where there is only one major Republican in the race. Next week, the party said it will issue endorsements where two or more Republicans are running. The GOP endorsed the four parishwide Republican elected officials […]

Very few Louisiana governors have been elected from Baton Rouge. Only one governor in living memory had his roots here, and most of our residents don’t even know it. Dave Treen was raised in North Baton Rouge and attended Istrouma Elementary School. His mother taught at Istrouma High School before the family moved to Jefferson […]

While Sheriff Sid Gautreaux was at the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s office to qualify for reelection, the Sheriff granted the Central City News an informal interview while doing his qualifying paperwork. His wife Suzi and Clerk of Court Doug Welborn participated in the interview. CCN: Sheriff, you might be able to solve […]

BATON ROUGE — Chaos has reigned in judicial circles in East Baton Rouge Parish in recent weeks, as some sitting district judges have realized that their seemingly safe judicial seats aren’t safe at all, others have simply felt it is time to retire, and some attorneys have sensed the winds of opportunity blowing. Although they […]

Clerk of Court Doug Welborn needs commissioners to work at polling precincts on Election Day. New precincts will soon be added for the first time in several years and the pool of commissioners will have to grow with the additions. “We are always seeking new commissioners, but the addition of the new locations puts us […]

Voters in Central will be able to stay close to home and still participate in early voting, thanks to an ordinance approved by the Metro Council May 22. The Council voted for a proposal by East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor Pro-Tem Scott Wilson (R-Central) to provide up to $62,000 in one-time money to wire and […]

Metro Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem Scott Wilson hopes to establish an early voting site in Central in time for the Oct. 12 statewide elections. Early voting is growing in popularity but residents of Central are not participating in early voting like other areas of the parish. “The closest places for early voting are Baker and […]

After a raucous election campaign filled with charges and countercharges, voters in the City of Central went to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and defeated all incumbents on the ballot — Mayor Jr. Shelton, Police Chief James Salsbury, Mayor Pro-Tem Kim Fralick, and Council members Shane Evans, Wayne Messina, and John Vance. Council member […]

I’ve been studying the Parish Road Plan to be voted on Dec. 8 for the last couple of weeks and worked out the numbers. The infrastructure improvements planned for the City of Central amount to $88 million. That includes $50 million to four-lane Hooper Road from Blackwater to Sullivan and $38 million to four-lane Wax […]