by Wesley Harris
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed receiving former Dubach Mayor Mona Wilson’s resignation and withdrawal from the mayoral race, canceling the December 12 runoff and leaving Corey Beckham as mayor-elect.
“We received Mayor Wilson’s resignation in time to remove her name from the December ballot,” a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office said. “As a result, the runoff is canceled, and Corey Beckham is elected mayor.”
Wilson received 121 votes, or 42%, in the November 3 election against two challengers. Beckham received 93 votes, while Kimberly Gill collected 72. With no candidate receiving a majority, Wilson and Beckham, both Republicans, were scheduled to meet in a December 12 runoff.
Voter turnout in the election was 51.3%.
Wilson was absent from a specially called Dubach Town Council meeting November 2. At that meeting, Town Clerk Tatjana Marsh confirmed to the news media present that Wilson was on medical leave and was still a candidate in the November 3 election.
Following the election, Beckham indicated he intended to continue his campaign in the runoff. In a social media post, Beckham said, “Looks like we get to do it again in December.”
But Wilson’s subsequent resignation and withdrawal eliminated the need for the runoff, leaving Beckham as the winner of the mayoral election.
Beckham will take office in January. In the meantime, Mayor Pro Tempore Mary Billberry will serve as acting mayor.
