Dec 27, 2024 Story by: Editor
GONZALES — Timothy “Tim” Riley made history by becoming the first Black mayor of Gonzales following a decisive runoff election. Meanwhile, voters in Ascension Parish approved a significant amendment to the home rule charter, shifting the power to appoint an administrative secretary from the parish president to the parish council.
Riley emerged victorious with 1,277 votes, defeating Kemlyn Bailey Lomas, who secured 1,107 votes in the runoff. In the lead-up to the election, Lomas prioritized community engagement, while Riley focused his campaign on enhancing public safety. Riley, who previously served as a councilman, emphasized his commitment to serving all residents.
“I want to make sure that they know that their mayor is working for them every day to make sure public safety is a priority. Tim Riley is a mayor for everybody. I care about the city of Gonzales, I care about the people. The people are always going to have accessibility to me, just like they had when I was a city councilman,” Riley stated.
The race for Gonzales police chief saw incumbent Sherman Jackson secure re-election with 59% of the 2,382 votes cast, defeating retired officer Stephen Ussery. Jackson plans to expand the city’s crime camera network, while Ussery has campaigned on adopting a more personal approach to law enforcement.
In other local races, Eddie Williams Jr. and Cynthia James won seats on the Gonzales City Council, and Clem “Boo” Brown was elected to the Donaldsonville Council.
The newly approved charter amendment for selecting the Gonzales city secretary aims to align Ascension Parish with practices in other parishes across Louisiana. While proponents acknowledged no issues with the position under President Clint Cointment, they noted past administrations had encountered challenges.
Additionally, voters approved several tax renewals for road lighting, ensuring continued funding for infrastructure maintenance. Source: WBRZ
