(The Center Square) — Republican Sid Edwards has been elected Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, defeating Democratic incumbent Sharon Weston Broome in a decisive victory.
Edwards, a first-time candidate, secured 54% of the vote, including a similar margin in early voting, marking a significant shift in leadership for the city
“I want to thank Mayor Broome,” Edwards said in his victory speech. “The hardest seat to be in is the incumbent because you have a record. She spent almost 36 years in public service, the last eight as our mayor. It would be remiss of me if I didn’t thank her for her service and running a good race.”
A longtime football coach who led Louisiana high schools to three state championships, Edwards promised to bring change to Baton Rouge.
“We’re not saying that everything has been bad in Baton Rouge, but there are things that need to change. It’s my promise to you as the next mayor-president, it’s going to happen,” he told supporters.
Mayor-president Sharon Weston Broome, addressing her supporters after the results, acknowledged the outcome with grace.
“We stood tall, and we fought hard,” she said. “While the outcome tonight is not what we desired, it doesn’t diminish the progress we’ve made or the hope we’ve inspired for this city.”
Broome’s loss marks her first electoral defeat in a political career spanning decades.
During her tenure, she focused on public safety, economic development, and initiatives such as the Safe, Hopeful, Healthy BR program, which aimed to reduce crime and empower communities.
The issue of crime dominated the race, with both candidates emphasizing its impact on the community and presenting different approaches to addressing it.
Broome highlighted her administration’s investments in law enforcement and community programs.
“We’ve equipped our BRPD with new cars, two new academies, and raises they’ve never had,” Broome said in a debate. “Through our Safe, Hopeful, Healthy Initiative, we’ve empowered communities with resources. We’re also elevating youth employment programs, workforce development training, and early childhood education to set our young people on a trajectory for success.”
Edwards, however, criticized the city’s ranking as the least safe among 182 major U.S. cities in a recent poll.
“The trauma, despair, and hopelessness I saw when I peeled back that curtain were incredible,” Edwards said, adding that he did not feel safe in the state’s capital city.
He also mentioned a peculiar phenomenon he encountered. Edwards said that when speaking with folks in the southern part of the city, they noted crime as their top priority.
But when speaking to residents in the northern Baton Rouge, where crime is particularly pronounced, he said the residents mentioned a lack of jobs as their top priority.
Edwards has proposed adding 100 new officers to the streets to focus on community policing.
“It’s not about locking every Tommy and Joe up, but we’ve got to get to community policing,” Edwards explained.
