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Drive to Get St. George Petition Signers to Remove Their Names

A campaign to incorporate a new city in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish is aiming to collect 18,000 signatures by July 23 to get the issue on the November ballot.

Monday, opponents with the group Better Together, announced a drive to get some of the thousands who have already signed on to remove their names.

Lionel Rainey, spokesman for the incorporation effort called the withdrawal campaign the latest in a series of tactics to maintain the status quo.

“I guess they think these people are too stupid to understand what they are doing," Rainey said.

Better Together claims the incorporation of St. George, which is motivated by desires for a new school district, would displace 7,000 public school students.

Speaking for the group, Jane Patton said that’s causing some petition signers to have second thoughts.

“Many didn’t know about these displacement issues. Others came to the conclusion that the St. George proposal just isn't thought through well enough. Others are just tired of the divisive tone of the whole St. George campaign," Patton said.

30 percent of the students Better Together says would be displaced are Magnet School students currently living within the boundaries of the proposed city.