News alert: Challenge to Bourgeois’ candidacy filed

An official challenge to District 12 Metro Council incumbent Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois’ candidacy has been filed this afternoon. The challenge, filed by Gerry J. Juneau, calls into question whether Bourgeois resides in District 12—where he rents a home—or in District 10, where he owns a home. “Upon further information and belief, 1225 Highland Park Dr. is the domicile and residence of Ryan G. Salario, to whom defendant Bourgeois subleases the property to,” reads Juneau’s challenge, referring to Bourgeois’ rented home in the district he represents. “Bourgeois resides and is domiciled at 2195 Kleinert Ave., which is not located in District 12.” Attached to the affidavit filed today are copies of sewer bills—mostly blacked out—that list Bourgeois as the addressee at the Kleinert Avenue address, and Salario as the addressee at the Highland Park Drive address. When contacted this afternoon, Bourgeois did not seem too concerned about the challenge. “The two people that are doing this are a couple of characters from Kenilworth,” Bourgeois says. “They did this four years ago.” Bourgeois’ residency was last an issue in 2004; when he changed his voter registration address from 2195 Kleinert Ave. to 2258 Stuart Ave.; and it was also raised in 2000, when he challenged incumbent Councilman Jim Benham. Brandon Abadie, supervisor of elections at the city-parish Clerk of Court, says the challenge could be heard in City Court as early as Tuesday. “They set these pretty quick,” Abadie says. —Adam Pearson