A Tale of Two Cities

All across Louisiana small towns are trying to stay afloat financially, as jobs has left and their tax base shrinks to uncomfortable levels. Small towns like cities, compete for that business/industry to relocate around them in hopes that their economic fortunes do turn around and they can offer services to its citizens without raising taxes. But the economic climate in this nation has been devastated because of COVID-19 virus, as many businesses are struggling to survive. Then there are times when elected officials get into situations where town funds are either misspent or misappropriated where a town can face a financial crisis. That appears to what had happened in Jonesboro years through alleged mismanagement of town funds that went without any accountability from previous administrations. Now the same thing may have happened in the town of Sterlington. The former mayor Vern Breland was recently arrested and charged with malfeasance in office and is being held(as of press time)at the Ouachita Correctional Center. The alleged crime took place between January 2017 and September 2018, as the town is $20 million in debt. Breland was indicted by a Grand Jury after being presented with enough evidence to justify a charge of malfeasance, but there could be additional evidence to support the charge.

When Leslie Thompson became mayor of Jonesboro, there was already alleged abuses of town funds that were not addressed by town/law officials or state auditors. Thompson soon became embroiled with some town officials who left him without any cooperation on straightening the town finances out. It wasn't too long before the finger pointing began at Thompson. Thompson was able to get needy grants for Jonesboro, but that wasn't enough as Thompson's political enemies were able to have him charged with malfeasance in office(same as Breland)to where he served time in prison. Even now, Thompson's legal troubles are not over.

Breland did not run for reelection for mayor of Sterlington, as it was being circulated that the town was having financial difficulty and that Breland was allegedly involved. In addition, the town has been having legal issues with Greater Ouachita Water over $12 million and loans for an $8 million sports complex that it hopes can eventually pay for itself. while no one is directly blaming Breland for the town's financial woes, the current mayor appears to be saying that they may not have had "all of the information" to make "a good, knowledge decision" before placing the town in debt. Two neb charged with the same crime involving town funds. One went to prison. The other faces the possibility of going to prison. It will probably come down to who you believe more.

All across Louisiana small towns are trying to stay afloat financially, as jobs has left and their tax base shrinks to uncomfortable levels. Small towns like cities, compete for that business/industry to relocate around them in hopes that their economic fortunes do turn around and they can offer services to its citizens without raising taxes. But the economic climate in this nation has been devastated because of COVID-19 virus, as many businesses are struggling to survive. Then there are times when elected officials get into situations where town funds are either misspent or misappropriated where a town can face a financial crisis. That appears to what had happened in Jonesboro years through alleged mismanagement of town funds that went without any accountability from previous administrations. Now the same thing may have happened in the town of Sterlington. The former mayor Vern Breland was recently arrested and charged with malfeasance in office and is being held(as of press time)at the Ouachita Correctional Center. The alleged crime took place between January 2017 and September 2018, as the town is $20 million in debt. Breland was indicted by a Grand Jury after being presented with enough evidence to justify a charge of malfeasance, but there could be additional evidence to support the charge.

When Leslie Thompson became mayor of Jonesboro, there was already alleged abuses of town funds that were not addressed by town/law officials or state auditors. Thompson soon became embroiled with some town officials who left him without any cooperation on straightening the town finances out. It wasn't too long before the finger pointing began at Thompson. Thompson was able to get needy grants for Jonesboro, but that wasn't enough as Thompson's political enemies were able to have him charged with malfeasance in office(same as Breland)to where he served time in prison. Even now, Thompson's legal troubles are not over.

Breland did not run for reelection for mayor of Sterlington, as it was being circulated that the town was having financial difficulty and that Breland was allegedly involved. In addition, the town has been having legal issues with Greater Ouachita Water over $12 million and loans for an $8 million sports complex that it hopes can eventually pay for itself. while no one is directly blaming Breland for the town's financial woes, the current mayor appears to be saying that they may not have had "all of the information" to make "a good, knowledge decision" before placing the town in debt. Two neb charged with the same crime involving town funds. One went to prison. The other faces the possibility of going to prison. It will probably come down to who you believe more.

Photo Mayor Leslie Thompson

Photo Former Sterlington Mayor Vern Breland