Dubach mayor resigns after leading election field, asks to leave Dec. 12 runoff

Dubach’s mayor has stepped down two days after leading the Nov. 3 mayoral field, according to the Lincoln Parish Journal. The Journal’s account of the resignation and a notarized memo is the primary source for this story; we have not yet seen a second outlet confirm the resignation itself.

Mayor Mona Wilson announced the resignation at Thursday night’s (Nov. 5) town council meeting, the Journal reported. In a signed, notarized Nov. 5 memo described by the paper, Wilson said she intended to resign immediately, cited health and well-being, and said she could no longer work with Councilwoman Evelyn Graham. She also mailed withdrawal paperwork to the Louisiana Secretary of State, the Journal said.

Nov. 3 results and the runoff

Unofficial Nov. 3 results, reported by the Journal and earlier runoff coverage from KTVE/KARD and the Ruston Daily Leader, had Wilson with 121 votes (42%), Corey Beckham with 93 and Kimberly Gill with 72. Wilson and Beckham advanced to a Dec. 12 runoff.

If the Secretary of State accepts Wilson’s withdrawal, Beckham would be the sole remaining candidate and would be declared elected under Louisiana law, the Journal reports. We are not saying Beckham has been elected. That depends on the state accepting the withdrawal, which had not been confirmed as of early Friday.

Wilson told the Journal the Secretary of State advised that the mayor pro tem, whom she identified as Councilwoman Mary Billberry, would serve through year-end, with the new mayor taking office Jan. 1. The Journal flagged the story as developing.