Mayor casts tie-breaker for seat

WELSH - Jackie Balmer will fill a vacant alderman seat here after the mayor cast a tie-breaking vote in the matter.

The seat was vacated by Bob Owens as of May 31, who announced last month he was relocating to Florida. Balmer will complete the remainder of Owens’ term, which ends December 2020.

When announcing his resignation last month, Owens recommended the board appoint former alderman Charles Drake to his seat. During a meeting this week, however, a split over who would take his place led to Mayor Carolyn Louviere casting a vote in favor of Balmer.

Alderwoman Andrea King had first made a motion to appoint Drake to the seat, a suggestion backed by Alderman Colby Perry. Both aldermen referenced Drake’s 16 years he had served on the board. They said they also felt the board should respect Owens’ recommendation.

That motion failed in a roll call vote 2-2 with aldermen Rodney Trahan and new voice, someone I feel will make the decisions she feels is best for the town.”

Louviere said over the past year, Balmer has regularly attended town meetings, speaking up about community issues and asking questions regarding decisions made by officials.

“She truly has the best interest of the town at heart and I believe she will serve the people well,” the mayor concluded.

should instead appoint someone to fill Owens’ seat.

The mayor later said deciding her votes was no easy task.

“Charles Drake does have a lot of experience as an alderman and he’s done so much for this town and still does,” she said. “I respect him. In casting a vote for Jackie Balmer, my decision was based on the fact that she has become quite involved in the town over the past year and is a Lawrence Mier voting no. To break the tie, Louviere cast a vote, which was also in opposition.

Trahan then motioned for Balmer to assume Owens’ seat, which Mier backed. King and Perry opposed this in a roll call vote, once again leading to a 2-2 split. Louviere cast another tie-breaking vote, this time in favor of the motion.

Perry claimed the mayor had no right to vote and that the governor