Republican Facing Child Rape Charges Set to Become Louisiana Police Chief After Opponent Withdraws From Election

A Republican facing two pending rape charges involving children is in line to become police chief of Elizabeth, Louisiana, after his only opponent announced his withdrawal from the election. Officials say the charges alone do not make Christopher Paul ineligible to hold office.

Paul was arrested in September over allegations involving two girls who were 13 at the time of the alleged offences in 2005 and 2006. He is out on bond. His opponent, Zachary LaCaze, said he was leaving the race because it conflicted with his federal employment, although receipt of the formal withdrawal notice had not been confirmed in the latest election-office update cited in local reporting.

How the Race Was Left With One Candidate Expected to Remain

LaCaze, who listed no party affiliation, announced on 23 September that he would withdraw after being told his candidacy was incompatible with his federal job.

According to KPLC's reporting, he worked in a civilian security role at Fort Polk and said he had been instructed to choose between that employment and the police-chief race.

'My full-time job is what provides for my wife and son, and I cannot take that away from them,' LaCaze wrote on social media. 'So, as much as it hurts me, I have to step away from this election.'

The restriction concerns the Hatch Act, which limits certain political activities by federal employees. The US Office of Special Counsel says covered employees generally cannot stand in partisan elections, even if they run as independent candidates.

Its guidance states that an election is partisan when any candidate represents a political party. That can apply even when all the other candidates have no party affiliation.

Paul entered the Elizabeth contest as a Republican. LaCaze's account therefore concerns the character of the election, not simply his own choice to run without a party label.

Local reporting said the qualifying deadline had passed, preventing a new challenger from entering through the ordinary qualification process.

Formal Withdrawal Determines the Election Outcome

The Louisiana Secretary of State's office told the broadcaster on 6 October that it had not received LaCaze's formal withdrawal notice. Once that notice was received, officials said, Paul would be elected unopposed.

That distinction matters: announcing an intention to withdraw is not the same as completing the formal election process. The dated update does not establish whether the notice has since been received or whether Paul has been declared elected.

The new police chief's term is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027. Paul has indicated that he intends to remain in the race.

When contacted by The Guardian for its report published on 11 October, Paul declined to comment on his candidacy.

Mayor Says Pending Charges Do Not Change the Ballot

Paul faces two counts of second-degree rape. The allegations remain pending and have not resulted in a conviction.

Mayor Mandy Green said neither she nor the Board of Aldermen had authority under state law to change the ballot. She also emphasised that Paul had not been convicted and was presumed innocent.

The election office told local reporters that Paul remained eligible to hold office unless convicted of a felony. That assessment concerns his eligibility; it does not determine whether the criminal allegations are true.

The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a non-profit focused on preventing violence against children, has called on Paul to withdraw while the case remains unresolved, the national newspaper reported.

Village Will Vote on Changing How Police Chiefs Are Chosen

Elizabeth's Board of Aldermen has approved an ordinance to place a separate proposition on the 12 December ballot. It would change the police-chief position from an elected office to an appointed role.

The local reports did not establish whether Paul's candidacy prompted the proposal or when a change would take effect if voters approved it. The proposition should therefore not be treated as a confirmed means of preventing him from taking office.

The village, which has roughly 400 residents, faces decisions about its policing arrangements while the criminal case proceeds separately.