Evangeline Parish School Board member removed after residency questioned
VILLE PLATTE, La. (KLFY)-- Evangeline Parish School Board member Wanda Skinner was removed from her District 8 seat by a judge in the 13th Judicial District Court.
Judge Marcus L. Fontenot ruled that Skinner did not live in the school board district she represented.
News 10 has been following the story since the District Attorney Trent Brignac filed a lawsuit against Skinner after voters accused her of not living in the Rozas Street home she listed in her notice of candidacy.
Skinner did not appear in court.
She was served the lawsuit Dec. 18 at the school board meeting. However, her attorney said she was not properly served, saying the papers she received did not list the correct trial date. Her attorney requested a continuance, which Fontenot denied.
The property's appearance and utilities were presented as evidence. The DA's lead investigator said the property was "in disrepair," citing opened doors and broken windows. He said it "appeared abandoned."
Donald Bergeron, City Clerk and Tax Collector, said the city does not provide water services at the property at which Skinner claimed to live. Bergeron said the last time water was used at the property was in August 2022. The city cut off water at the property in April 2024, and electricity usage was minimal the last three years. Cleco representatives said it was far less than the average home.
Prosecutors also presented Skinner's medicine delivery history as evidence. A pharmacy delivery driver said he has never delivered medicine to Skinner at the address where she claimed to reside. Instead, he said he delivered medicine to her at two different addresses in 2022 and 2024; both are in Ville Platte but not in District 8.
Thelma Toussaint was one who alleged Skinner did not live on Rozas Street.
"Because I don't know where she lives," Toussaint said.
Eula Thomas, who also filed a complaint, said family members needed to speak with Skinner but didn't know where to find her.
News 10 reached out to Skinner and her family for comment. They said they were unable to talk about the case for now.
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