Calcasieu Parish police jurors on Tuesday appointed Marshall Simien as the new police juror for District 2. Simien will fill the unexpired term of James Mayo, 52, who died Dec. 12.

Simien, who represented District A on the Lake Charles City Council from 2005 to 2013, was sworn in immediately after the panel’s appointment. His term runs through Jan. 11, 2016.

Simien said his goal is to preserve Mayo’s legacy through the rest of the term. He said he will get familiar with the projects Mayo was working on within the district.

“I know River Bluff Park is well under construction, and Opelousas Street Park is well under construction,” Simien said. “I know he was working on different things to get businesses linked in with all the economic development and preparation. So I’m looking forward to working on that.”

Simien was chosen over three others: Harold Whiney, former principal at Combre-Fondel Elementary School; Derrick Kee, who has a background as a public defender; and Raymond Fondel Jr., who has worked as an insurance agent and manager of Fondel Memorial Chapel. All four told the Police Jury of their qualifications for representing the district.

Simien also served on the Lake Charles Port Board from 2003 until his resignation in 2005 after being elected to the City Council.

Parish Administrator Bryan Beam said that the length of time remaining in Mayo’s unexpired term did not require a special election to fill the seat, according to state law. District 2 includes parts of north Lake Charles and Moss Bluff.(American Press Archives)

Brad Puckett