Richwood Recall Election

The next few days may be pivotal for distressed Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown, as the voters of Richwood will go to the polls, Saturday, December 11, 2021, to decide his future as mayor of the northeast Louisiana town. Over the years, Brown has fallen out of favor with many citizens of the town, as a petition to recall him from office garnered more than the required signatures to ask for such a recall. Brown has gone on offense, saying that the recall drive is the effort of three of the town’s five Alderpersons. Brown said that Alderpersons Wilbert Reid, Wysinger Cleveland, and Leola Keyes are who have turned people against him. Brown even alluded to former Mayor Ed Harris, who was unable to run because of a prior conviction, being free to run for public office again when the recall effort began. Wysinger Cleveland, of whom the mayor has locked horns with at town hall meetings, strongly denied Brown’s accusations, saying that the citizens of Richwood were dissatisfied with Brown’s performance in office. Cleveland said that he, Reid, and Keys "heard the concerns" of the citizens and that it was the citizens who “took the lead” in starting the petition. Cleveland then laid out several issues that had come before town meetings that called for better police protection, better streets, and overall security. There have also been several disputes concerning the town’s finances that have been of particular interest to Reid, Cleveland, and Keys. That is, how are the citizens’ tax dollars being spent. Of particular interest to Reid, Cleveland and Keys, is a clean-up project recently conducted by Brown on privately owned land allegedly that of an Alderperson for several parish firms that have greatly upset many of the town’s citizens who have complained about unsightly property within the town. As the recall day approaches, Brown has tried to remind voters that the “power” voters have to “choose” their leader will be taken away from them. If Brown loses, he will have no input in who the interim mayor will be, as the Board of Alderpersons has that responsibility. If succeeded, Brown alluded to his point that Reid, Cleveland, and Keys will be the ones who “take away” that power because they were a part of the recall effort. Brown also said that he “was elected to office” by the people, as that is the way democracy works. Those leading the recall effort will also say that democracy works when the people have the right to recall officials when they become displeased with their performance while in office. Brown said that until the day of the recall, he and his supporters would “fight the false things” that have misled the people and “educate” them on what he has done and what he plans to do in his administration. The people will speak Saturday, December 11.