Voters Choose Systematic Reform Approach After Ticketing Scandal
Updated October 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH — Duane Vince decisively won the Ward 2 Constable special election Saturday, defeating Amanda Southon with 59% of the vote in a race focused on restoring public trust after the previous constable’s controversial resignation.
The Results
Duane Vince (No Party): 231 votes (59%)
Amanda Southon (No Party): 161 votes (41%)
Total Turnout: 392 votes (6.2%)
All 14 precincts have reported, according to unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State.
What The Victory Means
Vince’s 18-point margin represents a clear mandate from Ward 2 voters who chose his systematic reform approach over Southon’s prior experience in the position. The race became necessary after former Constable Ron Tetzel resigned in March 2025 following Attorney General Liz Murrill’s determination that his school zone ticketing operation was illegal.
Vince campaigned on creating formal job descriptions for the constable position, establishing documented authorization procedures, and working cooperatively with the Sheriff’s Office—all measures designed to prevent future controversies about constable authority and duties.
Vince’s Background
The constable-elect brings 25 years of state government experience in law enforcement support roles to the position:
- 16 years with the Attorney General’s office as a digital forensic examiner specializing in Internet Crimes Against Children cases
- 9 years in radio communications support for Louisiana State Police
- Currently operates Provident Investigations, LLC
His professional background includes support work with multiple federal agencies including Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, ICE, and the Inspector General’s office.
Low But Expected Turnout
The 6.2% turnout was low but typical for special elections featuring a single local race. The election fell on an LSU football game day, which likely contributed to the modest participation despite the race’s significance for restoring trust in the constable position.
Ward 2 covers portions of Brusly and Addis, including the Highway 1 corridor where Tetzel’s controversial ticketing occurred.
Early voting ran from September 27 through October 4, with election day voting on October 11.
Southon’s Gracious Concession
Southon previously served as Ward 2 Constable by appointment from approximately 2018 until Tetzel’s election. She is married to Justice of the Peace Thomas Southon, under whom the constable position operates. The Attorney General’s office confirmed no legal conflicts with her candidacy.
She campaigned on her prior experience handling traditional constable duties without controversy, focusing on serving court papers and providing court security.
In a text message Saturday night, Southon offered congratulations to her opponent: “Obviously, I’m disappointed that I lost. But Duane is a great guy and I’m happy for him. And I’m here, for him, if he has any questions or needs assistance with anything.”
Vince Reacts to Victory
“Thanks for coming out and voting, thanks for putting your trust in me,” Vince said Saturday night after learning of his victory. He said he had been working at his part-time job and forgot about the election until text messages started flooding his phone with congratulations.
Vince said his goal is to restore the constable office’s reputation through quiet, professional service—keeping it out of the headlines. “I’d like to see the constable’s office—it’s there, but there’s no stories going on about it,” he said.
He emphasized his commitment to fixing the issues that have plagued the position and operating within clear legal boundaries. “I want everything on the up and up. I want everything to look legit. I want everything to be legit,” Vince said. “That’s the only way Brusly’s going to keep a good name is to not be in the news about doing stuff that appears illegal or is illegal.”
What’s Next
Vince will serve a six-year term handling court-related duties for Justice of the Peace Ward 2, including:
- Serving court papers, warrants, and subpoenas
- Executing court orders and judgments
- Providing court security
- Preserving public peace within the jurisdiction
Vince reiterated his campaign promise to establish clear job descriptions and boundaries for the position. “I’d like to know the limits of the job—what you can do, what you can’t do, what you’re responsible for,” he said. “I want to be able to put that on paper.”
He plans to consult with the Attorney General’s office to create formal job descriptions and establish clear operational guidelines—documentation that currently does not exist for constables in West Baton Rouge Parish.
“It gives clear guidelines. I’d like to know where my boundaries are. I don’t want to do anything out of boundary,” Vince said. “I want to make sure that everything that’s done is on the up and up.”
The Bigger Picture
This election marks the end of a controversial chapter for Ward 2 constable operations. Tetzel’s illegal ticketing program generated over 4,000 citations in just two weeks and created a $90,000 debt before being shut down by the Attorney General.
The scandal centered on a fundamental dispute about authorization, with Tetzel claiming approval from the AG’s office while Attorney General Murrill stated “At no time did the constable receive advice or approval to conduct speed enforcement work.”
Ward 2 voters have now chosen a candidate who prioritized preventing similar controversies through systematic reforms and clear documentation of constable authority and responsibilities.
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