PORT ALLEN – A candidate running for mayor of Port Allen may not actually reside there, according to property records uncovered by UWK. This could be a violation of Louisiana’s election laws, based on regulations and guidance from the Secretary of State’s office.
Lance C. Joseph filed to join the race on July 17, listing a Port Allen post office box as his address. However, he may actually live near a golf course in Plaquemine, about 14 miles away.
Documents obtained by UWK showed Port Allen mayoral candidate Lance C. Joseph may primarily live in Plaquemine, not Port Allen. A Google Map screenshot showed the distance between his home and the city.
According to Iberville Parish Assessor records, this Plaquemine property has been Joseph’s primary residence since 2006, where he received a homestead exemption. The Louisiana Tax Commission states that the tax break can only be applied to one property per person, which must be their primary residence.
“In order to qualify for homestead exemption, one must own and occupy the house as his/her primary residence,” the LTC wrote. “Regardless of how many houses are owned, no one is entitled to more than one homestead exemption, which is a maximum of $7,500 of assessed value.”
Where does Joseph live?
Joseph indicated on Iberville Parish Assessor records that his home on Island Drive is “100%” his primary residence and a homestead. The same P.O. Box listed on the Port Allen ballot appears in the property record for his Plaquemine home.
Joseph claimed this was an error in the Iberville Parish Assessor records.
“I didn’t indicate that,” he said. “I didn’t submit any documentation or file any records within any jurisdiction designating that as my homestead. They did that automatically. When I tried to remove it, they refused to remove it.”
Joseph said he did not have any emails or records of outreach to try to correct an alleged inaccuracy.
According to the Iberville Assessor website, this is not how homestead exemptions work. “You must apply for homestead exemption and then it is determined if you are eligible,” the assessor wrote. “Once granted, it is in effect permanent, as long as you own and reside at that location.”
Joseph said in a phone call that despite records showing he lives in Plaquemine with his wife, he primarily resides with his father in Port Allen.
West Baton Rouge Parish assessor records show Joseph is listed as an owner, but:
- Has “0%” of ownership.
- Wrote “no” as to whether it is his primary residence.
- Selected “no” when asked if it is his homestead property.
West Baton Rouge Parish Assessor records show Joseph is listed as an owner at his childhood home but does not use it as a primary residence or for a homestead tax credit, which can only be applied to one property at a time.
Secretary of State records show Joseph is registered to vote in Port Allen.
“My response is that I feel like I meet the qualifications for candidacy,” Joseph said.
What are the rules about where a candidate can live?
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State and state statutes, any mayoral candidate in Louisiana must live in the municipality they seek to represent for at least a year before entering the race. The state required Joseph to sign a form stating he met the requirements, which included being registered and able to vote in the district he is running for.
Documents from the Louisiana Secretary of State show the qualifications candidates must meet to run for office.
Joseph is an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana and a “member in good standing” of the Louisiana State Bar Association. The bar admitted him in 2002. The City of Port Allen hired him to be chief administrative officer in May 2020 and is currently in that role, according to Port Allen’s website and Joseph’s LinkedIn profile.
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