Central’s Mayor’s Race Underway

Central’s Mayor’s Race Underway

Central’s April 5, 2014, municipal elections are already underway.  Central voters will elect a mayor, five city council members, and a police chief.
Mayoral candidates Jr. Shelton and Dave Freneaux have already put up campaign signs along Central’s major thoroughfares, and they are busy campaigning and raising money.
Shelton narrowly lost the race for mayor nearly four years against incumbent Mayor Mac Watts.  He surprised many by his strong showing. Shelton subsequently was elected to the Republican Parish Executive Committee from Central and served as Republican chairman for the city until two months ago.
Freneaux, the founder of Central Speaks newspaper, has been closely aligned with Watts since starting his newspaper.
Shelton and Freneaux have been on opposite sides of many issues facing the City Council since 2010.  One of the most controversial was the Baton Rouge Loop.  The Central City Council debated and ultimately passed a resolution blocking the Baton Rouge Loop from passing through Central.  Shelton strongly opposed the Loop and testified for the resolution.
Freneaux opposed the resolution and said the Loop should be studied more and the door left open for it to come through Central.
Freneaux started his newspaper the week after the Central City News made public records requests from CH2MHill in March 2010.
In an interview this week, Shelton said his priorities are infrastructure improvements to Sullivan, Wax, Core, Lovett, Gurney, Hooper, and Greenwell Springs roads and extending Hooper across the Amite to Watson.  He said Central’s economic development has been poor at best and the city needs commercial and retail growth.  He plans to develop a drainage plan that would improve drainage and maintain it on an ongoing basis.  He said Central must address the sewer system and upgrade it.  Shelton said he favors continued privatization but says it must always be transparent for the citizens.
In his announcement, Freneaux said he will provide a stronger voice for the people through town hall meetings.  He said he has created a website and a Facebook page for greater discussion.  He favors single-member districts for the city council.
Freneaux kicked off his campaign with a reception at the home of City Councilman Louis DeJohn.  Sponsors of the event included Russell Starns, Rodney Bonvillain, Wade Giles, and Mike Breaux. He operates a delivery company. In addition to starting Central Speaks, Freneaux founded the Central Cultural Foundation.

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