TANGIPAHOA, La. – The Tangipahoa Parish Council is asking the Louisiana Supreme Court to appoint an interim justice of the peace for parish's 8th Ward.
The former justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell, resigned after an avalanche of worldwide criticism over his refusal to marry an interracial couple.
Parish President Gordon Burgess said he has received hundreds of letters and e-mail from around the country and world. He said they are critical of Bardwell’s actions and Tangipahoa Parish racist and backwards.
Burgess said he “absolutely” does not feel those kind of comments represent what the parish is really about.
"That is not my parish,” Burgess said.
"Nobody like to hear anything negative about their state or about their parish or about their town," said Tangipahoa Parish Councilman Carlos Notariano, who represents the Hammond area, "but I've always said, when things are true, it hurts, but when it's not true, it doesn't hurt."
Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster pointed out Wednesday, Keith Bardwell did not represent a single voter in the city of Hammond.
The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office says voters will select Bardwell's replacement in a special election Oct. 2.
The immediate issue is finding a temporary replacement to fill the job until then.
"We've talked to several people about possibly serving the interim term, and nobody wants to do it," Notariano said. "You may be talking about four months here; by the time you get adjusted to it, the time is up."
By state law, whomever is appointed cannot run for the office in the special election. Notariano said that makes finding a qualified replacement difficult. So the Tangipahoa Parish Council is asking the Louisiana Supreme Court to fill that position.
"I'm hoping it will get behind us soon," Burgess said.
Gordon Burgess was one of the first public officials to criticize Bardwell after he refused to marry Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay. Burgess said he's anxious for the Supreme Court to fill the position and put an end to this difficult chapter for Tangipahoa Parish.
"I'm not apologizing because I had nothing to do with it,” Burgess added. “But I'm sorry that it did happen. Let's get it behind us and move on."
Burgess said he hopes that will happen with the Supreme Court appointment within the next month.
