Norman Browning, Chairman of St. George, Reports on Status of Incorporation Litigation

By Norman Browning, Co-Founder of City of St. George – Baton Rouge, LA

 It’s been four years since the vote that should have created the City of St. George. As Chairman, I thank you for your past and continued support!

When this campaign began, we had over 60 percent support for our city. People wanted the right to control and manage our own government. 

Through the trials, tribulations, and constant push back, your support has never wavered and in fact has grown. With each step from the filing of the suit, the trial court’s determination, and the appellate court ruling to our application to the Louisiana Supreme Court, public support for St. George has grown stronger and more galvanized. 

Our legal team has and is doing an outstanding job of defending your sacred right to vote. 

The recent ruling at the appellate court was extremely surprising and without merit. 

Stating that the petition did not have a plan is a direct insult to your ability to make a knowledgeable decision. Over 17,000 voters fully understand the services to be offered and the method of paying for those proposed services. 

If Mayor Broome and Council member LaMont Cole failed to understand, then it only gives credence to the need to incorporate the City of St. George. 

Our privatization of services is and should be the future governance model for a successful city. 

A critical issue throughout the judicial process has been the legal standing of Mayor Broome and Council member Cole. 

Neither official is a resident of, own property in, or vote within the boundaries of the City of St. George. Both have stated that they are not suing in their City-Parish capacity and neither have received authority by the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council to represent the City-Parish in this litigation. 

Therefore, they are suing as individual citizens. The statute for challenging the incorporation requires an individual without governing authority to live within the proposed boundaries of the City of St. George. 

The Appellate Court dismissed Mayor Broome as party to the suit.  However, it has allowed Council member Cole to remain in the suit. This makes little legal sense. 

However, we are optimistic that the Louisiana Supreme Court will correct this error. 

The upcoming elections are important to the success of our future as a community. 

Many of the candidates have demonstrated strong support for the City of St. George. 

As you did with your participation in the St. George election, I ask you to get out and vote! 

In closing, thank you for your loyalty, trust, and support. 

Keep the faith. and we will see this through and succeed in creating the new City of St. George!