Reid Falconer of Madisonville is the new chairman of the St. Tammany Parish Council, elected Thursday night after an unprecedentedly divided vote by his council colleagues. Jerry Binder, who served as chairman in 2013, narrowly lost a bid to retain the 14-member council's top post.
Binder, of Slidell, was nominated by fellow Slidellian Gene Bellisario, and Falconer was nominated by Red Thompson of Folsom. No one else on the council received a nomination.
Immediately after Binder and Falconer were nominated, the council deadlocked 7-7 on which man should serve as chairman.