St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard has filed a challenge to the candidacy of the man running against him.
In the suit, filed Tuesday in district court in Opelousas, Bellard alleges that John Lewis III, the sole candidate running against him, does not meet the requirement to have filed tax returns for the five years preceeding the election.
Lewis hasn't filed his state taxes for 2021 or 2022, and he hasn't filed an extension for either year, either, the petition alleges.
Lewis told KATC that he is all up to date on his taxes.
"My taxes are all up to date," Lewis said in a telephone interview. "He acted prematurely, is what he did.
Everything is current."
A hearing is set for 9 a.m. Friday in Opelousas to decide the issue.
