Newly-Elected Officials Face BR Media at Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Lunch

– Last Tuesday, it was Central Day at the Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Luncheon as all of Central’s newly-elected city officials came to speak to the Baton Rouge media, many of whom attended the event.

For most of the officials, it was their first opportunity to speak to the press.  After the meeting, stories about Central and its new leadership appeared in The Advocate, nola.com, WAFB-TV, WBRZ-TV, and the Baton Rouge Business Report.

Central Mayor-elect Jr. Shelton was the main speaker.  He talked about the campaign and his goal of making Central the outstanding city in East Baton Rouge Parish.  He also talked about each of the newly-elected officials, including humorous stories where appropriate.

Shelton said he had a good meeting with Central Mayor Mac Watts, who is providing his full cooperation.  He also said he had gone by C. J. Brown Realtors and said his goodbyes to the firm where he has worked for the last few years.

He bragged on Central, saying it is a hidden secret in East Baton Rouge. He pointed to the pride that was shone even last Sunday when all of the candidates in Central banded together to remove all of the campaign signs that were clogging the roadsides.  He said, “There is a divide in Central, and it is real, but we’re going to work on that by putting Central First.  It will take an honest effort by both sides, but we can do it!”

He said Central is a good place to start a business or buy a home.  As far as development, he said it is welcome as long as developers live by the rules that the city has created.  However, under no circumstances will the city allow development that will undermine the rural atmosphere, he said.

The new Mayor praised incoming Police Chief James Salsburg and said he had good ideas to grow the police department, which he will support.  Salsbury said he wants to carry the department to the next level and eventually have an independent police force.

Shelton said Dr. Kim Fralick was the hardest working candidate and deserved to win.  She thanked the GOP for its support and told humorous stories about the campaign.  “There’s a story in every house,” she said.  At one home, she was confronted by a little dog, which ending up following here down the street.  At each house, the entourage picked up more dogs!

Councilman-elect Shane Evans said he had pledged not to lose a friend during the campaign and to speak ill of none of the other candidates.  He said he focused on listening to what the people of Central were telling him.

Councilman Wayne Messina laughed that he would be the senior citizen on the Council and said they don’t pay seniors for what they do but for what they know.  He took pride in Central’s new Senior Citizens Center, which he helped start.

John Vance thanked the GOP for their support.  He said he had gotten involved because someone had done something to hurt property values in his neighborhood.  He said he intends to look out for the interests of homeowners.

Central Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Washington, who faces a runoff May 3 for his Council seat, said, “I was blessed to be present for the birth of the city and to be part of each step that has been taken.  I’ve tried to give back to my community, and that’s what I still want to do.  The hardest thing I’ve ever done is sit in this chair, but I am greatly improved and won’t need it much longer.”