The Washington Parish Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Phillipp Bedwell to fill the vacant seat in District 5.

The council, in a non-partisan vote, approved the appointment during their regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 6. Bedwell will take his oath of office as soon the required paperwork is completed by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. It is anticipated this will be at the next scheduled meeting on Monday, Nov. 20.

The vacancy in District 5 was created when Councilman Pete Thomas resigned due to losing his house to a fire and relocated out of the district. District 5 is a very diverse district. It includes the Stateline area, Thomas, Pine, Ben’s Ford and the area around the Bogalusa Library and YMCA.

Bedwell will serve as Councilman until a special election called by the governor is held. Per the parish charter, the individual that is appointed by the council cannot be a candidate in the special election, but the council is happy to have Bedwell volunteer to represent the people of District 5 until the election.

Bedwell and his family have a long history in Washington Parish. His father was born and raised in Pine and retired from the Bogalusa paper mill. His mother was from Isabel. He was born and raised in Bogalusa, attended Terrace Elementary and Bogalusa Junior High, and graduated from Bowling Green in Franklinton.

Bedwell graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in Law Enforcement. He served on active duty and as a reservist in the U.S. Air Force in Kansas, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. He was a lieutenant and captain in the U.S. Air Force Security Police, responsible for the safety and security of nuclear weapons.

Bedwell then enjoyed a 26-year career with the U.S. Dept. of Justice in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He worked in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Texas. He was a correctional officer for three years and transferred to human resources, where he held many positions of increasing responsibility, including human resource manager of the United States Penitentiary in Pollack.

He retired in 2012 and he and his wife, Pamela Barlow Bedwell, moved back home to the Bogalusa area. The Bedwells have two children and six grandchildren. Their daughter Sarah and her family live in South Carolina. Their son, Robert, and his family are in Maryland where Robert is serving on active duty at the U.S. Air National Guard headquarters.

Since his return home, Bedwell has been active in many areas, including being elected to the Washington Parish Republican Executive Committee and the Louisiana State Republican Central Committee. He enjoys beekeeping, and when time and crops allow, selling his produce at the farmers’ market in Bogalusa.