A candidate running for police chief in a small Louisiana community is on track to take office unopposed even though he faces two pending charges of child rape, forcing local residents and officials to consider converting the elected role into an appointed position. Christopher Paul, a Republican, registered on August 6 to run for the police chief post in the southwestern Louisiana village of Elizabeth, and was subsequently arrested on September 8 following allegations that he raped two young girls in 2005 and 2006.
Initially, Zachary LaCaze was the only other individual qualified to run against Paul in the November 3 election. However, LaCaze announced his withdrawal from the race on September 23 after discovering that his federal government employment made his candidacy impermissible. Explaining his decision on social media, LaCaze stated that his full-time job supports his family and he could not risk losing it, leaving him no choice but to step away from the contest.
Because LaCaze withdrew well past the candidate registration deadline, Paul secured the position by default while free on a $60,000 bond tied to the child rape allegations brought by the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office, which covers the Elizabeth area. Under state rules, only a felony conviction would disqualify the 46-year-old Paul from assuming office when the new police chief term commences on January 1, leaving the timeline of his legal proceedings uncertain.
National advocacy group the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation publicly urged Paul to withdraw from the race while his criminal case remains unresolved. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Mayor Mandy Leo Green released a statement noting that neither the mayoral office nor the village council has the legal authority to alter the ballot, emphasizing that criminal charges are distinct from convictions and that the accused is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In response to the unfolding situation, the Elizabeth governing council scheduled a special December 12 election allowing local voters to decide whether the village police chief position should transition into an appointed role subject to board approval. Although council meeting minutes did not explicitly cite Paul's unopposed candidacy as the reason for the vote, the community also retains the option of pursuing a recall petition, which would require signatures from 40 percent of qualified local voters under Louisiana election laws. When approached for comment regarding his campaign, Paul declined to speak.