St. Tammany Parish Council members will meet Monday evening to decide the timing of a special election to fill the sheriff’s position following his resignation.
Randy Smith resigned last week after pleading guilty to charges of battery and disturbing the peace related to an incident at a Madisonville restaurant.
Bret Ibert has been appointed interim sheriff.
The council’s decision today will determine when the special election will take place.
The resolution would call for a special election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, to fill the vacant position.
Following Smith’s resignation, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office appointed an interim sheriff and chief deputy.
The St. Tammany Council only has 20 days from the date of Smith’s resignation to call a special election. If the council doesn’t, then the state steps in.
Residents across the parish seem to have mixed emotions as to when they want to see a special election.
“In the fall, because of the soaring crime rates in St. Tammany Parish, with people moving in,” said one resident. “If we don’t get someone who’s structurally sound now, what’s going to happen in the spring?”
“I don’t want to rush anything. We thought we had a good sheriff a while back, and it turned out not so well,” Monique Mcgee said.
While no one has officially announced they are running for the position, several people have expressed interest or hinted they are considering running in the race.
They are former NOPD superintendent Ronal Serpas, former NOPD officer Charles Loescher, and retired DEA agent and former St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office deputy Chris Bell.
Interim Chief of Police for Slidell Daniel Seuzeneau said he cannot officially say what his plans are, but is strongly considering it.
There may be a few others in the future who may express interest.
If the council chooses to vote to have a November special election, the winner of that race will finish out Randy Smith’s term and then will have to run for reelection in the 2027 November general election to keep the seat.
READ MORE:St. Tammany Parish council set to discuss special election amid sheriff shakeup
