A political feud between the current Turkey Creek mayor and a former Turkey Creek councilman has spilled over into newly elected mayor of Turkey Creek’s bid to take office on January 1. Keith “Bert” Campbell has filed a complaint against the newly elected mayor, Phillip Cavins, in Turkey Creek alleging voter fraud. Another resident of Turkey Creek has said he will start a recall petition once Cavins takes office.
Campbell filed the complaint against Phillip Cavins with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) on Monday, October 1. Campbell has said if no action is taken by EPSO and the district attorney’s office, he may take his complaint to the State Attorney’s General’s Office.
Darren Snyder of Turkey Creek said on Tuesday, he will file a recall petition sometime after January 1, with the State of Louisiana. His group would have 90 days to get 40 percent of the voters in Turkey Creek to sign the recall petition. Snyder estimated it would require 118 signatures.
Campbell, whose father is the late Mayor Bert Campbell, alleges current mayor Heather Cloud orchestrated the move when she decided to run for secretary of state at the last moment and got Cavins to run for the office. Campbell feels if Cloud loses her run for the state office, Cavins will step down as mayor forcing a special election to be called allowing Cloud to run.
“I have absolutely no plan to resign as mayor of Turkey Creek if our current mayor does not win Secretary of State in November,” Cavins said. “This rumor has been floating around our community since I qualified for the position of mayor back in July.
“The day I made the decision to run for this position, I had one thing on my mind. That one thing was to be a mayor who will dedicate the time and effort needed to see our community thrive and succeed. I have called Turkey Creek home since June of 2017, however I was raised right outside of its city limits.”
Campbell is hoping to have the 23-year old Cavins removed from office from his complaint. He said on Tuesday he hired private investigator James Bertrand of Ville Platte to investigate Cavins. According to Campbell and Bertrand, Cavins didn’t move to Turkey Creek until after he qualified for the election. They pointed to his registration that showed a P.O. Box address in Pine Prairie when he qualified. Later that same day, after qualifying ended, Cavins changed his address to 14547 Veteran’s Memorial Highway which is inside the Turkey Creek town limits.
Campbell, in an interview at the Gazette, said Cavins lived on Pecan Street in Pine Prairie and didn’t even move to Turkey Creek until after he was married just a few months ago.
“He wasn’t living in Turkey Creek for a year and a day,” Campbell said on Tuesday. “To me he gave a fake address to be elected mayor.”
However, a look at homestead exemption provided by Bertrand, shows that Cavins declared homestead exemption at the Turkey Creek address on June 13, 2017, which was more than a year and a day before qualifying. In most cases, the courts look at homestead exemption to show a voter’s permanent address and when it was filed.
“The turmoil and drama that has surrounded my decision to run for mayor has been very disheartening,” Cavins continued. “However, those who have attempted to keep Turkey Creek divided have only made me realize how dire it is that I continue to fight for the position which I, on my own, made the decision to qualify.”
Capt. Duane Jorden of EPSO acknowledged that a complaint was filed by Campbell on Monday.
“We just received the complaint and EPSO hasn’t even started an investigation into the complaint,” Jorden said. “Until the investigation is completed, we don’t even know if it is valid, much less criminal. Nothing will be turned over to the district attorney’s office until the investigation is completed.”
Both Campbell and Snyder said the election for mayor was so quiet they didn’t even know when qualifying for the post was being held. Campbell said he intended to run for mayor but missed the qualifying dates because there was no notification when it was being held. Qualifying was held on July 18,19, and 20.
“I wanted to run but I missed qualifying because there was no notification posted about qualifying,” Campbell explained. “Heather Cloud (the current mayor) said she was seeking re-election but then decided to run for secretary of state. She didn’t even say anything until after 4 p.m. so Cavins went and qualified.”
People wanting to challenge the qualifications of a candidate have seven days after qualifying ends to file a challenge, like a person’s residence. After seven days, a person can file a civil lawsuit contesting the person qualifications.
“The constant attacks, harassment and lies my family has experienced, including my grandparents, are not what democracy is about,” Cavins added. “Retaliating against individuals who decide to run for public office is not how the American system was designed to operate, and for that reason, I will not allow anyone to threaten or bully me out of a position that I have legally attained.”
Snyder said he is ready to file a recall petition once Cavins takes office. Just like Campbell, Snyder said “he didn’t even know the election was coming up.”
“I just think it is wrong for a person to be elected unopposed plus I found out he didn’t even live in Turkey Creek when he qualified,” Snyder explained. “I’ve had a lot of people complain to me about this. “
Cavins said, “I respect the election process that has carried municipalities, small and large, through hundreds of years of conflicts and triumphs in our great nation. For that reason, I respect the opportunity that people have to attempt a recall. At the same time, I pray for the chance to prove to each and every resident of Turkey Creek that I will be a mayor who works for the people and not one who wishes to control, manipulate and destroy those who may not fall in line with their beliefs.
“Since qualifying, I have made it a point to go to every house in Turkey Creek to get to know each of our residents even though I had no opposition. I recognize it is their needs that I will advocate for as mayor, and the best way to understand what those needs are, is by hearing it straight from the mouth of each Turkey Creek voter. Along with this, I have also been very active when it comes to learning the inner-workings of our village hall by visiting village hall regularly to gain knowledge from each and every town employee. I believe transparency is necessary to keep our government running smoothly. Therefore, I have also started a monthly newsletter for the purpose of keeping our residents well informed about topics being discussed at council meetings as well as any decisions made by the council.
“All in all, I just want the residents of Turkey Creek to know that I am dedicated to the position I will assume in January, and I am eager to be a mayor that makes our community proud.”
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