Edwards to keep seat on Metro Council

East Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards will retain her District 5 seat for a second term after her sole challenger dropped out of the race.

Herbert A. Pate withdrew from the race Tuesday, said Sailor Jackson, a spokesman with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Pate could not immediately be reached for comment.

Pate, a Democrat, is a retired public school guidance counselor who has vied for the seat and lost every election year since 1992.

Edwards said she’s very excited about “building on the foundation we’ve laid” in District 5.

She said she hopes to continue to strengthen civic engagement, improve infrastructure through programs like the Sanitary Sewer Overflow plan and the Green Light Plan, and reduce crime.

Edwards said she recently met with Pate, who told her he would withdraw because he is in a “different season in his life.”

She said she shared many of the same community concerns as Pate and would partner with him to continue working on those issues.

District 5 covers an area in the central part of the parish, roughly extending from Plank Road in the west to the Comite River in the east, Hooper Road and Cypress Bayou in the north to Greenwell Springs Road and Airline Highway in the south.

The deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the Nov. 6 primary is Friday.

On Tuesday, Twahna Harris dropped out of the District 1 race against Trae Welch per a settlement reached in court last week.

Welch filed suit against Harris, alleging that many of the signatures on her nominating petition were forgeries.

Harris said that some signatures were signed by family members who had authorization to sign for other members of their family, but she agreed to withdraw.

Harris’ withdrawal means Welch also will retain his seat on the Metro Council.

Chandler Loupe, Scott Wilson, Ryan Heck and Buddy Amoroso also secured seats to the 2013 council for lack of opponents.