Joel Boé, the Metro Councilman for District 9 for the last seven years, confirmed to Daily Report today that he will not seek re-election next year.
He says he has been mulling over the decision over the last year, and he eventually decided to step away from the council to spend time with his wife and four children, all of whom are under 8 years old.
“I think that at some point my public service will continue, in what capacity I can’t tell you,” he says.
Boé says he has considered himself the voice of reason on the council during his tenure for taking emotions out of any argument and making rational decisions. He says he also hopes he is remembered as someone who was honest, truthful and ethical with his constituents and fellow council members.
Boé says he has spoken with three people who have expressed interest in the seat. He declined to name two of them, but says the third is local real estate agent and St. George supporter Dwight Hudson. Boé says Hudson approached him several months ago to gauge Boé’s thoughts on running for re-election and said at the time that he would only run if Boé did not seek another term.
Boé says no one pressured him to step down, and that many people have asked him to run for a third term. But he feels now is the right time to step down.
He still has one year left on his term and says he is looking forward to this final year.
“Hopefully I’ve left District 9 in a better position than I found it,” he says.
—Ryan Broussard
