A Fourth Judicial District Court judge has ruled that two candidates challenging incumbent Monroe City School Board member Brenda Joyce Shelling for the District 7 seat are qualified to remain on the ballot, rejecting Shelling’s claim that neither lives in the district she represents.
Judge Wilson Rambo, presiding over Division “C,” issued the ruling Friday, August 21, in consolidated election-contest lawsuits Shelling filed against challengers Jennifer Denise Newman and Tyrone Dewayne “K9” Dickens. The cases were tried together in a bench trial, with the sole issue before the court being whether Newman and Dickens are legally domiciled within District 7 — a requirement to run for the seat in the upcoming fall election.
The Legal Standard
In his written reasons, Judge Rambo emphasized that Louisiana law draws a sharp distinction between “residence” and “domicile,” which are not legally synonymous. While a person may hold multiple residences, the law recognizes only one domicile — defined as a person’s principal home, established through both physical presence and the intent to remain there indefinitely.
The judge noted that as the party challenging her opponents’ qualifications, Shelling carried the burden of proof to show that Newman and Dickens had abandoned their District 7 residences and established new domiciles elsewhere.
Louisiana courts, he wrote, must interpret election laws liberally in favor of preserving candidacies, resolving any doubt about a candidate’s qualifications in that candidate’s favor.
Newman’s Case: Mail Forwarding Not Enough
Shelling’s central argument against Newman rested on evidence that Newman receives mail at an address in District 6, despite listing her District 7 residence at 508 Richardson Avenue on her candidacy qualifying form.
Newman testified that the District 6 address belongs to her parents, whose home she checks on weekly, and that she simply redirected her mail there for convenience — to collect it all in one place. The court found her explanation reasonable and noted that Shelling offered no evidence to contradict it.
“The challenge to Jennifer Denise Newman’s candidacy is Denied,” Judge Rambo wrote, finding her qualified to remain a candidate for the District 7 seat.
Dickens’ Case: Storm Damage, Not Abandonment
The challenge against Dickens centered on evidence that he maintains more than one residence — a circumstance the court noted is expressly allowed under Louisiana law. Shelling presented no proof, the judge found, that Dickens had abandoned his home at 3004 Dick Taylor Street, located within District 7, in favor of a new domicile elsewhere.
Testimony at trial established that Dickens’ home was damaged by an ice storm and other severe weather, affecting its roof and flooring, and that he has been unable to secure funding or contractors to complete repairs. A corroborating witness testified that
Dickens intends to move back into the home once it is repaired.
The court found it significant that Dickens had listed the Dick Taylor Street address on official documents — including two divorce filings, voter registration, and parole supervision records — all completed before the election dispute arose, lending those statements added credibility.
Dickens also presented proof that he receives mail, including Social Security correspondence, at the address.
Judge Rambo noted that while Dickens may have spent occasional nights at other locations, testimony showed he never considered those places his home, nor did the people living there consider him a resident.
In a footnote, the ruling also addressed a prior felony conviction from 2009, noting that Dickens received a full pardon from the Governor’s office on August 18, 2025, restoring his civil rights except for firearm possession — a matter the court said was not timely raised as a qualification challenge and posed no barrier to his candidacy.
Ruling and Costs
“For these reasons, the Court finds Tyrone Dewayne Dickens qualified to be a candidate for Monroe City School Board District 7 for the upcoming Fall election and Denies the challenge to his candidacy,” the judgment states.
With both challenges rejected, the ruling confirms that Newman, Dickens and Shelling will all appear on the ballot as qualified candidates for the District 7 seat this fall.
Judge Rambo assessed all court costs associated with the proceedings against Shelling, citing her failure to prove her case.
The judgment was signed August 21, 2026, and notice was ordered served on all three parties, as well as the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
