The St. Francisville Board of Aldermen voted July 9 to appoint Collin Howell to finish the term begun by Alderman Al Lemoine, who died June 22.
Lemoine and the other board members’ terms end Dec. 31. Qualifying for the Nov. 5 election for mayor and aldermen will be July 17-19 at the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.
Should Howell, 28, seek a full four-year term, he would be running for one of four at-large seats. Alderwoman Gigi Robertson represents a single-member district with a majority of Black voters.
Mayor Pro Tem Abby Cochran, presiding in the absence of Mayor Robert Leake, nominated Howell for the vacancy, noting he lives in Audubon Hills subdivision.
Responding to a suggestion from the audience that the board appoint Lemoine’s widow, Cochran said board members had reached out to the family but she did not want to accept the position.
Cochran also said she thought it was important to have someone living in one of the town’s subdivisions serving on the board.
Alderman Rucker Leake agreed with Cochran, but also reminded Howell “we wrap our arms around the whole town” and said if he sees something that needs attention in other areas to be sure to bring it to the mayor and board’s attention.
Howell said he has worked in the parish for DEMCO for the past eight years.