Mayor-President Sid Edwards Names Christel Slaughter as Permanent Chief Administrative Officer

BATON ROUGE, LA - Thursday, November 6, 2025 - Mayor-President Sid Edwards has officially appointed Christel Slaughter as the permanent Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for East Baton Rouge Parish.

Mayor Edwards praised Slaughter's leadership, professionalism, and deep understanding of city-parish operations, noting that she "has the utmost respect of this community, every council member, and countless public officials who have worked alongside her."

Slaughter, a respected Baton Rouge business and governmental consultant, has advised and collaborated with the last four mayors of East Baton Rouge Parish, bringing decades of experience in strategic planning, organizational management, and executive leadership. Her appointment marks a historic milestone in City-Parish government: she is the first woman to serve as Chief Administrative Officer since the 1980s under Mayor Pat Screen.

"Christel Slaughter is a proven leader who understands the complexities of government, values collaboration, and has an unwavering commitment to the people of East Baton Rouge Parish," said Mayor-President Edwards.

"We announced, and it was my intention, to conduct a national search for the CAO, but each day that Christel served in the interim position, it became clearer to me that she was the right person for the job. We found our national pick right here in Baton Rouge," continued Mayor-President Edwards.

Several EBR Metro Council members voiced their strong support for the Mayor-President's selection.

Mayor-Pro Tempore Brandon Noel said, "Dr. Christel Slaughter has earned my and many of my colleagues' trust through her professionalism, deep knowledge of the government, and collaborative leadership. I am very pleased with her appointment as CAO, and feel it will strengthen the partnership between the administration and the Metro Council."

District 10 Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman said, "Dr. Christel Slaughter has been deeply involved in our community for many years. Her long record of service and partnership makes her the absolute best choice for CAO."

Slaughter will continue overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Mayor-President's Office and all City-Parish departments, advancing initiatives focused on efficiency, accountability, and community progress.