Caddo District Judge O'Callaghan just ruled that Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is disqualified from this year's mayor election.
Unless this ruling is overturned either by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals or the Louisiana Supreme Court, Perkins will not be on the Nov. primary ballet for mayor.
Perkins filed a Notice of Candidacy on July 22 that certified a south Shreveport address as his residence. He also certified that he was registered to vote in a south Shreveport precinct.
Perkins purchased a condominium last year in downtown Shreveport. He filed a homestead ad valorem tax exemption on this condo.
Louisiana law provides that a person claiming a homestead shall register to vote in the precinct in which that residence is located. i.e. downtown Shreveport.
Perkins changed his voter registration to his downtown address on Sat. July 30.
Louisiana law also provides that the filing of a false and/or inaccurate certification on a Notice of Candidacy disqualifies the candidate from the election that the candidacy has been filed.
Judge O'Callaghan cited a similar case from West Monroe that disqualified a candidate. This case was upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. This case served as a legal precedent for his ruling.
Perkins can appeal his case to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Perkins will continue to serve as the mayor of Shreveport until his term ends this year when the winner of the mayor's race is sworn into office.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.