Donald Nowatzke filed for the Blanchard mayor’s race last week.
He listed on his Notice of Candidacy the address of 8070 Old Mooringsport Road, Shreveport Louisiana 7007.
By statute, a mayoral candidate for Blanchard must have been domiciled and a resident of the Town of Blanchard for at least the year before qualifying.
The Mooringsport address listed by Nowatzke is outside the corporate limits of the Town of Blanchard.
Objections to candidacy are heard on an expedited basis, and a hearing has been set for this Friday (Aug. 14) in Caddo District Court before Judge Brady O’Callaghan.
Numerous documents have been subpoenaed for production at the hearing including Nowatzke’s current driver’s license, voter registration card, copies of utility bills, the front page of bank statements and real estate documents.
These documents will be the decisive evidence the court will consider in determining whether to disqualify Nowatzke as a candidate for the Blanchard mayor’s race.
Blanchard Mayor Jim Galambos filed the litigation and is represented by Charles W. Strickland.
It is expected a decision will be rendered in open court, or if taken under advisement on Monday, August 17.
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.