Mayor’s story still unfolding

The story about the mayor’s job in Eunice was still unfolding as the year wound down as the Louisiana Supreme Court considered an appeal of a 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal decision that cleared the way for appointed mayor Scott Fontenot to run for the job.
The mayoral story unfolded in October when Mayor Claud “Rusty” Moody announced he was resigning after months of struggling with cancer. Moody, 71, died on Nov. 3.
Moody’s career spanned 42 years and most of it was as an educator in the St. Landry Parish public school system. He had not finished serving his first year of a second term as mayor when he died.
The Board of Aldermen named Fontenot interim mayor on Oct. 13. He resigned his Ward 4 alderman’s seat on the same day. Fontenot’s resignation triggered the appointment of Connie Thibodeaux to fill the seat.
The path seemed set for a special election in March. Aldermen approved qualifying dates in December and set the election for mayor and Ward 4 alderman for March 5 with runoff vote for April 9.
But Fontenot’s appointment was challenged by the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
27th Judicial District Judge Alonzo Harris dismissed the Board of Ethics challenge on Dec. 14. The district court ruling was upheld by the 3rd Circuit.
The Board of Ethics contends Fontenot cannot run for the mayor’s job after being appointed to it by the Board of Aldermen.
The story continues this year with the elections.
Qualifying for mayor are:
— William “Mr. Bill” Thompson, Democrat, 411 Harold St.
— Roland Miller, Republican, 1220 Faris Ave. Eunice.
— “Tim” Longman, Republican, 1201 Yukon St. Eunice.
— Scott A. Fontenot, No party, 531 W. Park Blvd. Eunice.
Qualifying for alderman are:
— “Dale” Soileau, Democrat, 441 S. Sixth St. Eunice.
— James “Donnie” Fontenot, No party, 421 S. Fifth St. Eunice.
Shantell Arredondo Ward, Republican, 1451 Scott St. Eunice.