St. George Movement Hosts Rally For Coach Sid Edwards Sept. 30St. George Movement Hosts Rally

The St. George Community will hold a rally for Coach Sid Edwards for Mayor-President at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, at Woodlawn Baptist Church, 5805 Jones Creek Road. The public is invited.

For many, it will be a way for the community to voice their opposition to Sharon Weston Broome and Ted James, both of whom have fought St. George for the past 13 years. Some say Edwards’ candidacy gives St. George the chance to have an objective Mayor-President sitting across the table as they negotiate the transfer of power from the City-Parish to the City of St. George.

The Mayor-President is the top elected official in the parish. He or she controls the City-Parish budget, City-Parish departments, the Baton Rouge Police and Fire departments, public works, and many boards and commissions.

However, the Mayor-President has added significance today because transferring the reigns of government from the City-Parish to the new City of St. George requires cooperation on countless issues that affect the day-to-day lives of the people of St. George.

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has opposed St. George since 2011 and waged a five-year legal battle to nullify the popular vote of the people of St. George in favor of incorporation. 

Despite her opposition, she is currently responsible for negotiating a deal with the City of St. George. St. George officials complain that she drags her feet and refuses to manage the details and send tax dollars to St. George the City-Parish has collected.

Coach Sid Edwards, the Republican candidate, said he strongly supports the decision of St. George voters to incorporate, and he will do everything in his power to make sure the incorporation works out well for everyone in the parish.