Voters in East and West Feliciana parishes have chosen Cy D'Aquila as their next district attorney, handing him a decisive win over opponent Ken Fabre to lead the 20th Judicial District's prosecutor's office. D'Aquila, an attorney and former public defender, captured 62% of the vote in complete but unofficial results, setting him up to take over a prosecutor's office that has seen a wave of change in recent weeks.
D'Aquila's victory, as reported by WBRZ, caps a campaign in which he squared off against Fabre for the right to succeed longtime district attorney Sam D'Aquilla. The 20th Judicial District covers both East and West Feliciana parishes, putting D'Aquila in charge of prosecutions across both communities once he takes office.
The seat became open after Sam D'Aquilla decided not to seek reelection and instead ran for judge. According to The Advocate, D'Aquilla — district attorney since 2002 — stepped down from the post and is instead taking office as the district's Division B judge. In the meantime, Bruce Dodd has served as acting district attorney since October 1, 2026, continuing in that role until the newly elected district attorney is sworn in.
A Long Career In Local Law
D'Aquila is not new to the communities he'll soon serve. Per the same account, he has practiced civil, criminal and family law in East and West Feliciana parishes for more than 18 years, a stretch that included running his own private practice as well as 16 years spent working as a public defender.
Fabre brought his own prosecutorial background to the race. The outlet's reporting notes that he became a prosecutor in West Baton Rouge Parish in the mid-1990s before relocating to the 20th Judicial District in 2022, giving voters two candidates with substantial courtroom experience to choose from.
What D'Aquila Says He'll Prioritize
D'Aquila told WBRZ that his priorities as district attorney include fostering closer communication between prosecutors and law enforcement during investigations, expanding youth outreach, and offering reform options such as community service when appropriate. Those themes echoed goals he laid out before the election, when he said he wanted to personally prosecute high-profile jury trials, educate and train detectives, and get more involved with youth, according to The Advocate's earlier coverage of the race.
Fabre had outlined a different set of priorities heading into the election, saying his goals would include making sure assistant district attorneys are well-trained and protecting victims. The two candidates' overlapping focus on training and community impact underscored shared concerns heading into the contest.
With the transition now set in motion, residents of East and West Feliciana parishes can expect D'Aquila to step into the role currently held on an interim basis by Dodd, bringing nearly two decades of local legal experience — and a stated focus on youth programs and law enforcement coordination — to the 20th Judicial District's top prosecutorial post.
