Denham Springs council holds heated public hearing on district elections; motion to deny ordinance recorded

Denham Springs — The Denham Springs City Council held a packed public hearing in May 2025 on a proposed ordinance to divide the city into three geographic council districts plus two at-large seats, hearing nearly two hours of testimony from residents and community leaders before council members debated the next step.

Residents and local organizers who proposed the map said districts would improve local accountability and access to representatives. “This would ensure every area of the city has a fair, responsive and accountable representative,” said Leslie Akins, a spokesperson for the group pushing districting. Dr. Derwin Walker and Catherine Martin presented the committee’s draft map and population calculations based on the 2020 Census.

Opponents and several longtime residents urged caution or opposed changing an at-large system that they said has…