Dustin Yates Elected Mayor; Proposed Charter Fails 55-45

After 13 years of trials and tribulations, the people of the new City of St. George are only one step away from putting into place the city government they have worked so hard to create.

On Saturday, March 29, the voters elected Dustin Yates as Mayor of the City of St. George along with City Councilman David Dellucci.  Police chief Todd Morris and four city councilmen were elected at the close of qualifying back in January when they were unopposed for election.

In the Mayor’s race, Yates who has been serving as interim Mayor, defeated Jim Morgan.  Yates had 11,472 votes, or 65 percent, compared to Morgan’s 6,202 voters, or 35 percent.  

Yates has served as a fire chief with the St. George Fire District.

In the race for two at-large seats on the City Council, Dellucci, a former Major League baseball star, ran first with 8,848 votes, or 56 percent of the vote.  Since his total exceeded 50 percent, he was elected outright. 

Jim Talbot ran second with 7,224, or 46 percent. Shaunn Wyche was third with 6,157, or 40 percent. Bill Johannessen was fourth with 4,728 votes, or 30 percent, and Scott Emonet was fifth with 4,097 votes, or 26 percent.

In the race for the City Council seat from District 4, Patty Cook was first with 1,838 votes, or 45 

percent; David Madaffari was second with 775 votes, or 19 percent. Justin Turner received 772 votes, or 17 percent, and Shannon Powell received  705 votes, or 17 percent.

Runoff for City Council. 

On May 3, St. George voters will fill the two remaining seats on the St. George City Council. 

Voters at-large across the city will choose between Republican Jim Talbot and Democrat Shaunn Wyche.  In District 4, voters will select either Republican Patty Cook or Independent David Madaffari.

Defeat of City Charter. 

In the March 29 election, voters in St. George played an important role in deciding two major propositions on the election ballot.

St. George voters had before them a proposed City Charter that was based on a Council-led government, run day to day by a City Manager with a salary of over $200,000. The Mayor would have been the liaison between the City Manager and the City Council. That plan faced considerable opposition among city voters and was defeated with 8,646 or 45 percent voting Yes and 10,561 or 55 percent voting No.

As a result, the City of St. George will be governed by the Lawrason Act, which is currently used by over 80 percent of Louisiana’s municipalities, including the City of Central.  Under the Lawrason Act, the Mayor is the head of the city government.  He proposes the city budget, directs city employees, and presides at city council meetings.

Defeat of Amendment No. 2. 

On March 29, St. George voters also voted on four statewide Constitutional amendments.  The most controversial was Amendment No. 2, which would have revised Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution on Finance.

The 115-page amendment was the longest in state history and would have made far-reaching changes in Louisiana’s tax law. Perhaps the most controversial provision would have removed from the state constitution exemption from property taxation for all property owned by non-profit organizations and much of the property owned by churches.

That amendment failed overwhelmingly statewide and in East Baton Rouge Parish.  

In the City of St. George, voters also defeated Amendment No. 2 resoundingly.

Here Amendment No. 2 received 6,018 votes for, or 38 percent, and 9,810 votes against, or 62 percent.

Unopposed Candidates

The following candidates for St. George city offices were unopposed and will take office with those elected March 29 and May 3:

• Police Chief – Todd Morris.

• City Council District 1 – Richie Edmonds

• City Council District 2 – Steve Monachello

• City Council District 3 – Max Himmel

• City Council District 5 – Andrew Murrell

All of those elected to city office in St. George so far are Republicans.

In the May 3 runoff, the East Baton Rouge Republican Parish Executive Committee has endorsed Jim Talbot and Patty Cook.

Interim Officials

In May 2024, Gov. Jeff Landry appointed the interim St. George leaders, who will continue to serve until July 1. Those  are Yates, Morris, Edmonds, Monachello, Himmel, Cook, and Ryan Heck.

All of those officials have been elected to full terms in office, with the exception of Cook who faces the May 3 runoff and Heck, who did not seek election to the new city council.

The interim city council created two additional council seats, which will be filled by Dellucci and the winner of the Talbot-Wyche runoff.

The City of St. George has its City Hall at St. George Fire headquarters on Airline Highway where it leases space.