At a Friday press confrence St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor announced that he has decided to step down as District Attorney as of February 1, 2020.
Taylor has served St. Landry Parish for 40 years, 17 as Assistant District Attorney, and 23 as District Attorney.
He was elected District Attorney in 1997.
Why stepping down? Taylor said, “I had indicated to many people that I intended to seek a 5th term, but on Veterans Day this year I spent a lot of time at the St. Landry Parish War Memorial and there was a scripture, “In everything there is a Season. A time to be born and a time to die; a time for planting and a time for harvesting.” I thought, “a time for beginning and a time for ending.”
Taylor added, “I had been struggling with the question, ‘Will it be best for me, my family, and for the people of St. Landry for me to run again?’
Taylor, 80, realized, and in the interest of himself, his family, and the people of St. Landry to make a decision that day that it was time to relinquish the office.
The first Assistant District Attorney Charles Cravins will become the District Attorney until the next election.
Taylor expressed his “Thank you’s” to many people, including his entire family, his brother Harold Taylor, and sister Helen Soileau, his entire staff, his entire campaign committee, and all the citizens of St. Landry Parish.