OPELOUSAS — After 23 years as the St. Landry District Attorney, Earl Taylor has passed the torch over to Charles Cravins.
As Cravins took the oath and finished with, "So help me, God," audience members in the Delta Grand Theater in downtown Opelousas clapped for the newly sworn-in District Attorney.
Cravins said he believes "there's a responsibility, there's an obligation, a duty, and it's your turn to do it, that's how I feel."
Charles Cravins has worked alongside Earl Taylor since 1997, but says he has big shoes to fill.
"It's more to live up to his slogan, which is 'Do the right thing,'" explained Cravins. "That's what I want to live up to."
His predecessor Taylor believes Cravins will fit the role perfectly.
"He is worthy, and will make a wonderful DA."
He says he most likely will run for a full term next January, but for now, Cravins says he has plans for his first day in office.
Cravins has an extensive history of public service in St. Landry Parish and in Louisiana, including serving as Regional Director and Governmental Affairs Coordinator for the 4th Congressional District. He was appointed to the role of Chief Administrative Officer of the St. Landry DA's office in 1997.
Since 2007, Cravins has served as Assistant DA and then First Assistant DA of the 27th Judicial District in St. Landry Parish.
He has served as adjunct professor at Southern University Law Center, been the lead trial attorney in dozens of civil and criminal cases before various Federal, State, and City Courts.
For the past 33 years, Cravins has co-hosted the Cravins Brothers Zydeco and Information Show with his brother and nephew.
The Army Veteran said during his speech Saturday that its his parents' guidelines that got him where he is today.
"You're not better than anyone else, and nobody is better than you. I just think that's something I live by. I believe everybody is the same."
