A small Louisiana village called Elizabeth is on track to elect a police chief who was arrested in September on two counts of second-degree rape involving two 13-year-old girls roughly twenty years ago. Christopher Paul, 48, is running unopposed after his only opponent, Zachary LaCaze, withdrew because his federal job violated the Hatch Act. Under Louisiana law, the village has no authority to remove Paul from the ballot, and he’s eligible to hold office unless convicted of a felony. He’s set to be sworn in January 1.
Mayor Mandy Green says Paul is presumed innocent and has invited residents to a community meeting on October 12 to share concerns. Meanwhile, the Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance placing a measure on the December 12 ballot that would change the police chief position from elected to appointed. The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a nonprofit, has called on Paul to step aside while his case is pending.
The story raises difficult questions about how small towns handle candidates facing serious felony charges, the limits of local election law, and what public safety looks like when trust is in question. Whatever happens in court, the community of Elizabeth will have decisions to make in the weeks ahead. What do you think: should a candidate under felony indictment be allowed to serve as police chief while the case is pending?
