BREAKING: Lawsuit challenging Marc Mercer’s mayoral candidacy dropped
RAPIDES PARISH, La. (KALB) - In its first official courtroom hearing, the electoral lawsuit challenging Ball Alderman Marc Mercer’s 2026 run for the Town of Ball’s mayoral office was dismissed.
On August 13, the Louisiana Board of Ethics filed a lawsuit challenging Mercer’s run for office following the dismissal and subsequent referral of a Ball resident’s own suit attempting the same. In that resident’s suit, Mercer was accused of being unable to run for office due to several delinquent fines and fees associated with the Board of Ethics. According to the Board of Ethics’ website, Mercer owed approximately $2,975 in assessed fines, fees, and penalties for filing campaign finance and personal disclosure forms dating as far back as 2019.
The resident refused to refile or pursue the suit after a Rapides Parish judge tossed the case due to a lack of “certified evidence.”
On August 19, appearing in court alongside Mercer, attorney at law Charles Elliot accepted a Judgment of Dismissal that was filed by the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
According to Elliot, Mercer agreed to pay $2,500 in his outstanding fees, with the remaining fines and penalties being placed on hold.
“That’s all on hold because we’ve agreed to take care of most of these issues.”
Elliot claims the securing of the deal was a surprise, in lieu of other similar cases being filed across the state, saying, “they [Board of Ethics] tried some of these cases across the state yesterday, other lawyers, other cases, other venues, and, for whatever reason, they decided this wasn’t one they wanted to try.”
Due to the suit’s nature and the proximity of the November election, Elliot says Mercer can no longer be challenged in his run for office. According to the filed Judgment of Dismissal, the Louisiana Board of Ethics will pay all court costs associated with the matter.
KALB reached out to Mercer’s electoral opponent and incumbent Mayor Gail Wilking, who provided this statement:
“I respect the court and the judicial process, and I accept today’s decision. I want to make it clear that I was not a party to this lawsuit; the Louisiana Board of Ethics brought this action. My focus remains the same: serving the people of Ball and working for our town’s future. Ball’s future is too important to be about anything other than our community. To God be all the glory. I will continue forward with faith, dignity, Christian values, and a grateful heart.”
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