Moreau retires, parish council to name new registrar

The St. Landry Parish Council is expected to appoint a new registrar of voters at a special meeting tonight.
According to Parish President Bill Fontenot, Registrar John Moreau submitted a letter Friday announcing his retirement, the same day Moreau was charged with felony criminal damage for allegedly “keying” a former romantic interest’s car on the courthouse parking lot.
Deputy Registrar Cheryl Milburn has been appointed interim registrar and will be recommended by Fontenot for the permanent appointment. Milburn has worked in the office more than 30 years, according to Clerk of Court Charles Jagneaux.
He said the parish can’t afford any dilly-dallying on the appointment, considering the heavy election demands this year.
Moreau, 51, had held the life-time appointment since 1985.
Moreau’s fall from grace was sudden though circumstances leading up to it apparently were not.
Susan Gerace, 47, who works in the office of 27th Judicial District Judge James Doherty, the same office in which Moreau’s wife works, alleged in a court document Friday that she is a “former dating partner” of Moreau.
That assertion was part of a move for a restraining order she obtained, accusing Moreau of damaging her vehicle several times and harassing her.
The damage complaint Friday was similar to one Gerace filed in December, but police said there were no witnesses to that alleged act.