McDavid Secures Second Term as Zachary Mayor Without Opposition

ZACHARY, La. — Zachary Mayor David McDavid will return to City Hall for a second term after qualifying for the Nov. 3 election without opposition, giving the longtime law enforcement official another four years to shape the rapidly growing city.

McDavid, who was first elected mayor in 2022, will not face a challenger in the upcoming municipal election. His uncontested reelection comes as Zachary continues to experience significant residential and commercial growth while city leaders work to maintain the community’s schools, public safety and quality of life.

For McDavid, the next term represents an opportunity to continue initiatives launched during his first administration rather than beginning a new campaign for the office.

“When I asked for your vote in 2022, I made you a commitment: that we would get a handle on growth instead of letting growth get a handle on us,” McDavid said when announcing his reelection campaign.

He said his administration has focused on preserving the characteristics that have helped define Zachary while preparing the city for its future.

“That we’d protect what makes Zachary special, our schools, our safety, our small-town character, while still building a future our kids would want to come home to,” McDavid said.

McDavid said the work is not finished.

“That’s exactly what we’ve begun to do. But, there is still more to accomplish. I want to finish what we’ve started together,” he said.

The mayor brings decades of public safety experience to the office. His career in Zachary began in 1984, when he became a volunteer firefighter and reserve police officer. He joined the Zachary Police Department full time in 1988 and eventually served 12 years as the city’s police chief before entering the mayor’s race.

His transition from police leadership to municipal government has placed public safety and managed growth among the central issues of his administration.

Zachary has changed considerably since McDavid began his public service career. The East Baton Rouge Parish city has grown to nearly 20,000 residents, nearly doubling its population over the past quarter-century.

That growth has brought increased demands for infrastructure, housing, transportation, public services and economic development while creating pressure to preserve the community’s identity.

McDavid’s second term will give him the opportunity to address those challenges without the uncertainty of a contested mayoral election.

His reelection will become official through the Nov. 3 election process, with voters returning to the polls even though no challenger qualified for the mayor’s office.

For Zachary, the uncontested race marks less a conclusion than a continuation — with McDavid positioned to spend the next four years concentrating on the city’s growth, services and long-term direction rather than campaigning for another term.