Slidell Voters Face Judicial Races This Fall, Hotel Tax Decision Next Spring

Three Open 22nd Judicial District Court Seats Are On The November Ballot, While A Proposed 2% Slidell Hotel Tax Will Go Before Voters In April 2027

Slidell voters will have several significant local decisions ahead, beginning with three open seats on the 22nd Judicial District Court this fall and continuing next spring with a citywide vote on a proposed hotel occupancy tax.

The judicial elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. The three open seats are in Divisions E, G and H of the 22nd Judicial District Court, which serves St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

Nine candidates are seeking the three judgeships. In Division E, Michele Moore Echols and Cameron Mary are running for the seat previously held by William H. Burris. Burris left the district court after being elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Five candidates are running for Division G: Ben Clayton, Jason Cuccia, Theophile “Theo” Jones, Amanda A. Trosclair and Angelina Valuri. The seat is opening with Judge Scott Gardner’s retirement.

In Division H, Whitney Germany and Luke Lancaster are competing for the seat held by Judge Alan A. Zaunbrecher, who is also retiring.

The Louisiana judiciary’s current listing shows the 22nd Judicial District Court with 12 judicial divisions. The court handles a broad range of criminal, civil and family matters in St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

Once the November election is over, Slidell voters will have another local issue awaiting them in 2027.

Slidell Hotel Tax Heading To Voters

The Slidell City Council has moved forward with placing a proposed 2% hotel occupancy tax before city voters in the April 17, 2027 election.

The Louisiana Legislature authorized Slidell to pursue the tax earlier this year through Senate Bill 406, which became Act 958. The law does not impose the tax by itself. Instead, it gives the city authority to levy a hotel occupancy tax of up to 2% if a majority of Slidell voters participating in the election approve the proposition.

Under the state law, the tax would apply to paid hotel-room occupancy within Slidell and would be paid by the person renting the room.

Revenue could be used for the construction, operation and maintenance of recreational facilities in Slidell or for other tourism-related initiatives identified in the tax proposition.

A fiscal analysis prepared during the legislative process estimated that a 2% tax could generate as much as $590,000 annually. After an estimated collection fee, the analysis projected approximately $583,215 in net annual revenue for the city.

The proposal would be an additional hotel occupancy tax rather than a replacement for existing state and local taxes charged on hotel stays. Louisiana currently imposes a 5% state sales tax on room rentals outside Orleans and Jefferson parishes, while local taxing authorities may impose additional occupancy and sales taxes.

Why This Matters In Slidell

The two elections will put different parts of local government directly before Slidell voters.

The November judicial races will determine who occupies three divisions of the district court serving St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Those judges hear cases ranging from criminal prosecutions and civil disputes to family matters and other district court proceedings.

The April 2027 proposition, meanwhile, will ask Slidell voters whether visitors staying in city hotels should pay an additional 2% occupancy tax to generate money for recreation and tourism-related purposes.

The Louisiana Secretary of State lists Nov. 3, 2026 as an election date and maintains the state’s candidate and voter information through its voter portal. The state also lists April 17, 2027 on Louisiana’s future election calendar.