Council appoints Penny Petrie to Library Board after public lobbying and contested ballot

The St. Tammany Parish Council voted Oct. 2 to appoint Penny Petrie to the St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control after a contested selection process that drew public speakers from both supporters and opponents of various nominees.

Selection process and public comment: the council considered three nominees to fill a vacancy: Penny Petrie, Cheryl Godwin and Lorraine Kinchin. Multiple members of the public spoke during a packed public comment period, urging the council to select a board member who would be nonpartisan, experienced in literacy and grant work, and broadly representative of the community. Supporters of Lorraine Kinchin emphasized her grant‑writing experience and nonprofit leadership; other speakers urged selection of a candidate perceived as apolitical. Support for Penny Petrie highlighted her background in the St. Tammany Parish school system and experience as a librarian.

Council balloting and outcome: the council took an internal ballot that produced nine votes for Penny Petrie, three votes for Lorraine Kinchin, and one vote for Cheryl Godwin. Following that tally, Council member Phillips moved a resolution to appoint Penny Petrie; the resolution passed unanimously on the formal vote.

Why this matters: the Library Board oversees a major parish cultural and educational resource and the appointment follows a period of public controversy over board governance. Speakers repeatedly asked the council to select a candidate who would put the library’s mission first and avoid politicization.

Ending: Council members thanked all nominees for submitting and encouraged cooperation as the board moves forward on library leadership and services.