Caswell: Annexation Not Political

Whether he decides to qualify as a city judge candidate or not, Jay Caswell wants to live in Eunice and is petitioning to do so.
Caswell said that for years his children have attended school in the city and he has practiced law in the city. He is also prosecutor in City Court.
He said he wants his residence – which is just beyond University Place and just outside of the city limits – to be annexed, with no liability to the city. And he is taking the matter to the City Council.
“I do have a petition to annex property into the municipal corporate limits of Eunice,” said Caswell on Friday. “The law clearly provides for such an annexation of contiguous, adjacent property. And the council is to consider the merits of such an annexation considering the benefits to the city.”
Caswell said that any question or concerns regarding his residency within the jurisdiction as it relates to possibly running for judge is a different matter altogether.
According to Louisiana Revised Statute 13:1873, judge candidates “shall have been a qualified resident elector of the territorial jurisdiction of the court for at least 2 years prior to the candidate’s election”.
How that stipulation might affect a Caswell candidacy is speculation for another day, he says.
Unless or until he qualifies, it is not an issue, he says. Meanwhile, the annexation is expected to go before the City Council, perhaps as soon as April.
“As far as qualifications to run for Eunice city court judge, that doesn’t have to be addressed until the qualifying period – which is in August,” said Caswell. “This wouldn’t be brought up before the council. The council’s consideration is strictly the risk and benefit to the city regarding my annexation. The qualification issues don’t actually get addressed until I would qualify. The bottom line is the annexation is a totally independent cause from any qualifications.”
Announced judge candidate Terry Hoychick, asked about the residency issue, said, ““I’m running for city judge no matter who’s running. That’s my concern. I’m going to do what I have to do. I’m just going to run the race whether it’s one, two, three or four (candidates).”
The other announced candidate, Paul Brown, had not returned phone calls by deadline.