St. George Officials Sworn in, Mayor Yates Outlines Vision

The first elected officials for the new City of St. George were sworn in July 1 in modest ceremonies at Grace Life Fellowship Church.  It was an historic day for the people of St. George, some of whom had worked for as long as 13 years to give the people of the area their independence from City Hall in Baton Rouge.

Mayor Dustin Yates made it clear in his Inaugural address that the No. 1 goal of his administration is creation of an independent school system.  A constitutional amendment to do that will be on the ballot statewide  on Saturday, April 18, 2026. 

Interim city officials were appointed by Gov. Jeff Landry in May 2024, shortly after the Louisiana Supreme Court gave long-awaited approval for the city to come into existence. The people of the proposed city voted for incorporation in October 2019.

Sworn in July 1 were:

• Mayor Dustin Yates

• Police Chief Todd Morris

• City Council members Richie Edmonds, State Monachello, Max Himmel, Patty Cook, Andrew Murrell, David Dellucci, and Jim Talbot.

All of the seven appointed officials ran and were elected to their offices. They were joined by David Dellucci and Jim Talbot who were elected to the newly-created positions of Council at-large.  The original five Council members were all elected from single-member Council districts.

Mayor Yates gave an eloquent and visionary speech, in which he thanked everyone who had a part in incorporating St. George, outlined the challenges of creating a new city government, and renewed the commitment for St. George to have its own school system. He 

concluded his speech by saying his government will be judged by whether it fulfills the promises it has made.

Here are highlights of Mayor Yates’ Inaugural address:

“It was a shared victory. Together we have turned an idea into a reality. A vision into a city. A dream into a place we call home.

“I’m thankful to the City Council, the chief of police, and the people. Especially the people. From petitions to court hearings, public meetings, years of waiting, working and organizing, you never gave up. 

“You believed we could govern ourselves and chart our own course. Because you believed, we are here today.

“To the volunteers. Your work has not only made history – you have made a home. 

“Today is the starting line. The next four years will be a time of extraordinary change and undeniable growth, but let’s be honest – none of this will be easy. 

“There will be difficult decisions, growing pains, and moments of doubt. But I am sure of this: We were made for this moment! 

“In the next year alone, we will be tasked to build a foundation and culture of this new city. We must formalize departments, develop an administration, build our staff, and create a government that is responsive, transparent, and efficient. 

“We must deliver on the promises we made and deliver the services to the people. 

“The most critical challenge now is returning to the ballot box to seek your support for creation of our own school system. Education was the cornerstone of why St. George was formed in the first place. We believe in the power of excellent schools to uplift families, anchor communities, and a shape of our future. We want a system that serves all children well. A system where decisions are made locally with input from parents, teachers, and the very people who depend on the system for survival. But we must earn that right and build it the right way with integrity and stability. We will need your voice. It will need your work, and the above all we will need your unity.

“Creating the new school system will not be easy, but it will be worth it because we will invest in education.  When we invest in education, we invest in the future of every child. 

“We must also develop the infrastructure for our city that is smart and forward thinking, including roads, drainage, utilities, and planning that meet our current needs and future growth. 

“We will commit to prioritizing public safely, including police and fire second to none. We will also commit to fiscal responsibility, delivering quality services in an efficient way. 

“Let’s be clear about our values. St. George is for everyone, regardless of race, color or creed. 

“As Dr. Martin Luther King said, we must learn to live together as brothers or we must perish together as fools. Let that be the spirit of Saint George, one of mutual respect, shared goals, and guaranteed dignity for everyone who calls this city home.

“We will lead this city, not with pride, but with wisdom. We will listen and collaborate. 

“Our parish has its own challenges and we will not ignore them, but we will not be defined by them. We are part of a brotherhood of communities. We will lead with integrity, not ego. 

“As Teddy Roosevelt said, it’s not the critic who counts, but the man in the arena who errs and comes out short but strives to do the deed. Make no mistake about it, we are in the arena now, and we will strive to build and serve. 

“This city — our city — is something special. It is not just lines on a map. It is a community that chose to come together to believe in ourselves and take control of the future. That is rare and so powerful. It is what makes St. George different. 

“So we can tell every teacher, firefighter, police officer, nurse, coach, or parent who call St. George home that this is your city, and the best is yet to come 

“We are building something new. Something lasting. Something truly ours. We will find our legacy not my headlines, but by whether we keep our promises.”