By Tiffany Flournoy
CULLEN, La. — A court filing obtained through the Webster Parish Clerk of Court’s public records system indicates Mayor Terry Hoof and Town Clerk UnTracy Brittentine have either resigned or intend to resign from their positions, according to a motion filed by attorneys representing the Town of Cullen.
The disclosure appears in a Contested Motion to Continue Trial and Incorporated Memorandum in Support, filed July 28 with the Webster Parish Clerk of Court in the ongoing civil lawsuit filed by Police Chief Fannie Rankin against the Town of Cullen and its Board of Aldermen.
In requesting that the court postpone the Aug. 5 bench trial, the town’s attorneys cited the need for additional time to complete discovery and referenced what they described as recent leadership changes within the municipality.
The motion states:
“Further, the Town Clerk for Cullen, UnTracy Brittentine, and Mayor Terry Hoof have both resigned or intend to resign from their respective positions.”
The filing does not specify whether either resignation has already taken effect or whether one or both officials intend to resign at a later date. It also does not identify an effective date for either departure.
The reference to Brittentine follows last week’s reporting by the Webster Parish Journal regarding her departure from the town clerk’s position. In that report, Alderwoman Bianchi Veal stated that Brittentine had resigned from her position as town clerk. The July 28 filing is the first public court document reviewed by the Webster Parish Journal indicating that Hoof has resigned or intends to resign.
Under Louisiana law, a mayor’s resignation does not become effective until it is received by the Secretary of State in accordance with state law.
The distinction means that while attorneys representing the Town of Cullen advised the court that Hoof has “resigned or intends to resign,” the Secretary of State’s Office had not received an official resignation as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Under normal circumstances, the mayor pro tempore would assume the duties of mayor until an election is held to fill the position, should a vacancy officially occur.
The latest development comes after months of instability inside Cullen Town Hall.
Since late 2025, the Webster Parish Journal has documented a series of challenges facing the municipality, including repeated payroll issues, mounting unpaid obligations, questions surrounding public records and meeting procedures, insurance lapses, police vehicles left out of service because of fuel shortages, and ongoing disputes over the town’s finances and operations.
The leadership changes also come as the town continues to defend itself in the civil lawsuit filed by Rankin, who has alleged interference with the operation of the police department. In their motion, the town’s attorneys argue that additional time is needed to complete discovery before the matter proceeds to trial.
The town is asking the court to continue the bench trial currently scheduled for Aug. 5 and reset the matter for Feb. 24-25, 2027, or for another date deemed appropriate by the court.
As of publication, no resignation letter from Hoof had been filed in the public court record associated with the lawsuit, and it remained unclear when any resignation might become effective or when the process to fill the mayoral vacancy, if one occurs, would begin.
Requests for comment from town officials regarding the filing were not immediately returned. The Webster Parish Journal will continue to follow developments as additional information becomes available.
About the reporter: Tiffany Flournoy is an independent investigative journalist and contributing writer for multiple news outlets, including Webster Parish Journal, with experience covering government accountability, courts, public safety and justice issues across Louisiana. Her reporting focuses on municipal operations, transparency and public accountability.