Judge rules Chapa will appear on election ballot

No firm evidence that candidate does not meet residency requirements

A Beauregard Parish judge ruled Friday that 18 year-old Jose “Lil’ Joe” Chapa, Jr. will be allowed to keep his name on the upcoming sheriff’s election ballot. 

Judge C. Kerry Anderson said in his ruling that the petitioners of a lawsuit claiming Chapa did not meet the residency requirements to run for Beauregard Parish Sheriff did not meet the burden of proof placed upon them, and lacked any firm evidence to bring about a different ruling.

“There has been a lot of conjecture and speculation about what is and what isn’t in this case, but I can only make a ruling on what has been proven as facts. Quite honestly, the burden is on the plaintiffs and it is a pretty heavy burden. The bottom line is, that burden has not been met to disprove that Mr. Chapa has resided in the state of Louisiana for two years prior to Aug. 6, 2019, or that he has actually been domiciled in Beauregard Parish since Aug. 6 of 2018,” Anderson stated as he delivered his decision.

Anderson added that he had “a lot of questions” regarding Chapa’s parents’ filing of homestead exemptions on two homes at the same time, and perhaps, he said, even registering to vote and getting a driver’s license in a different state.

“But I don’t have any absolute proof of that,” Anderson stated.

“Without any evidence to contradict that, I don’t have any evidence to make a decision on,”

The suit was filed Aug. 9 by five petitioners who alleged that Chapa resided in Texas and not Beauregard Parish for the preceding two years before qualifying this month. According to the state election code, anyone seeking the position of clerk of court, tax assessor or sheriff must reside in the parish for two years prior to qualifying, with the most recent preceding year being of a domiciliary residence.

Chapa graduated from the Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School in Texas in May 2018, but has publicly stated that he lived in the Dry Creek area of Beauregard Parish and commuted to the Houston-area school each day.

Chapa will appear on the Oct. 12 ballot with candidates John Gott, Mark Herford, Jim Jacobsen, and Rob Moreland, Sr.””Candidacy Qualification graphicAmerican Press

SportsPlus

Local News

Jennings councilman wants to change rules for hiring, firing attorney

life

Preserving history for future generations: Exhibit examinins role Black churches play in communities

Local News

Trump administration tries to bring back fired nuclear weapons workers in DOGE reversal

Crime

2/17: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Vote now for the People’s Choice Mardi Gras of SW La.

Local News

Trump begins firings of FAA air traffic control staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash

McNeese Sports

Showdown in Hammond

McNeese Sports

Diamond roundup: Cowboys fall, Cowgirls win

Local News

US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

Local News

Several Louisiana public university athletic programs — including McNeese — face financial deficits

Local News

Getting back on par: The long and short of the National Golf Club of Louisiana

Local News

NASA sending DeRidder students’ experiment into stratosphere

Local News

Shady Lane man found unresponsive has died

McNeese Sports

Richards shoots Cowboys by UNO

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls end skid at UNO

McNeese Sports

Late power lifts Pokes

McNeese Sports

Record win for Landreneau

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Movie highlights injustice

Informer

The Informer: LC was almost the home of a US naval base

McNeese Sports

Roundup: Cowboys win opener, Cowgirls fall to Tennessee

Business

Trump grants conditional export authorization for Commonwealth LNG project

Local News

Weekend thunderstorms followed by a mid-week cold front in the forecast

Local News

PHOTO GALLERY: Free Valentine’s Day dental care

Local News

Landry, Murrill target New Orleans sanctuary policies in federal court