Stung by criticism over her nomination to fill the District 7 Metro Council seat she will be vacating to take a seat in the state legislature, outgoing Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle says she is seriously considering resigning her council seat immediately instead of in January—a move that would require the city-parish to call a special election to fill the remainder of her unexpired term.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Marcelle indicated she is planning to resign immediately.
“Since everybody who have NO Interest in District 7, but want to say who replaces me, I’ve decided to step down and allow the people of District 7 only to decide who will lead us!!!!,” the post reads. “With that being said, let me see how this will work out….oh I know, the same way, only the Parish will have to pay for an election!!!!”
Marcelle previously has said she would vacate the seat on Jan. 11, the same date the new legislators take their oath of office.
According to the city-parish Plan of Government, when a council seat is vacated within one year of the expiration of a term, the seat is filled by an appointment of the council. If the seat is vacated more than one year before the term expires, however, a special election must be called.
Marcelle, who was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in October, has been blasted—largely by people outside of her district—for nominating former CATS Board President Isaiah Marshall to fill her unexpired term. Marshall stepped down from a tumultuous term from CATS in 2013 amid scandal, though he was never specifically accused of wrongdoing.
Though the full council must sign off on his appointment, it is customary for the council to honor the outgoing member’s chosen successor. Several council members have confirmed they would approve Marshall’s nomination.
Reached by telephone this morning, Marcelle said she has not made a definite decision to resign immediately, despite the Facebook post. But she is leaning that way.
“I was really venting yesterday … but that is totally what I am looking to do,” she says. “I am waiting on some legal advice.”
Council administrator Casey Cashio says his office was notified this morning of Marcelle’s interest in resigning and is currently researching the necessary steps to call a special election. The state’s 2016 election dates are March 5, April 9, Nov. 8 and Dec. 10. Cashio says calling an election is more complicated than it sounds, and the city-parish might not be able to pull it off by March or April.
“That is one of the things we’re trying to find out,” he says, adding the city-parish is also trying to determine how much a special election will cost.
If a special election is called, Marcelle will still get to nominate her interim successor.
Also this morning, Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel added an item to the Dec. 9 council meeting agenda to allow the city-parish to accept online applications for open council seats. All qualified applicants would be placed on the agenda on the same date the council is scheduled to vote on filling the vacancy. Besides Marcelle, Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards is also headed to the Legislature, but she has not publicly announced her endorsement.
—Stephanie Riegel
