New police jury, new leaders

The new Lincoln Parish Police Jury has taken office, with a new president leading the way.

Second-term juror Glenn Scriber, of District 6, was unanimously elected president of the parish government Monday night at a special meeting of the police jury to kick off its new four-year term.

After a year when the president election was split almost in half, and a term when jurors were divided over several key issues, Scriber’s message centered on unity as he took the president’s chair.

“It makes no difference to me whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, an independent, no party affiliation,” he said. “When I look at you, I see a person with a heartbeat. I see an individual. What I want us to do as a group of people is work together as a team.”

Jurors also unanimously chose newly elected District 1 juror Greg “Big Coach” Williams as vice president, appointed Courtney Hall to a new one-year term as parish administrator after he had served as interim for nearly all of 2023, and renewed Michael Sutton as treasurer for another two years.

A longtime painter and carpenter, Scriber has lived in District 6 for 31 years, according to his reelection campaign announcement last summer.

He gained his first term on the jury without opposition in 2019 when former juror Walter Pullen made a run for parish assessor. Scriber handily won reelection in October over challenger John Cole.

He made an unsuccessful bid for jury president in January of 2023, losing by a 7-5 vote to three-year president and former parish administrator Richard Durrett.

Scriber spearheaded the recent construction and opening of the 3-D archery range at Lincoln Parish Park, which the jury owns.

In his speech Monday Scriber said this term may be “the most exciting time for Lincoln Parish that we have ever seen.”

A longtime coach in both Ruston and Grambling, Williams is a 40-year resident of Grambling. He narrowly unseated former juror Theresa Wyatt in a three-way race in October and November to win his first term.

“I was on a lot of successful athletics (programs),” Williams said after his vice president election. “I’m used to being on the goal line and making the call. I’m here just for one reason, and that’s make Lincoln Parish better and do what I can to make District 1 the best it can be.”

Hall served 11 years as parish administrator - the leader of parish government staff - until his retirement in the summer of 2020. He returned as interim administrator last January after the jury dismissed Doug Postel from the role.

“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed your administrator for another year,” Hall said. “Excited to see what this new year is going to bring with this new jury, and I’m just proud to be working with y’all.”