The longtime community supporter, business owner and Louisiana notary is campaigning on a message that “Justice Begins With Service.”
TaMeshia “Shuntel” Hasten has officially qualified to run for Justice of the Peace in Ward 2, bringing a record of community involvement and public-facing service into the local judicial race.
Hasten qualified as a Democrat on August 5, 2026. She will face Ronald “Ronnie” Grace when Ward 2 voters go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
For Hasten, seeking office is not the beginning of her involvement in St. Gabriel and East Iberville. She describes the campaign as a continuation of work she has pursued for years.
“Many people know me as TaMeshia. Many simply know me as Shuntel,” she said while announcing her candidacy. “No matter what you call me, I hope you know my heart for service.”
That heart is reflected in her campaign message: “Justice Begins With Service.”
A Record of Community Involvement
Hasten points to a community-service record dating back to 2016.
Her work has included supporting youth athletics, sponsoring community events, providing scholarships for students and organizing FAFSA information nights to help families better understand the financial-aid process.
Through her business, A.N.T. Services LA, she has also assisted residents with administrative matters that can otherwise feel complicated or overwhelming.
These experiences have allowed her to work directly with families, listen to their concerns and help them complete processes affecting important parts of their lives.
“Service has never been something I do during election season,” Hasten said. “Service is who I am.”
Experience Helping Families
Hasten is a business owner, Louisiana notary and public tag agent.
Through those roles, she has helped residents navigate vehicle documentation, notarial transactions and other official procedures requiring accuracy, confidentiality and careful attention.
She believes the experience has strengthened qualities that would also be important in a Justice of the Peace: patience, accessibility, fairness and the ability to listen before reaching a conclusion.
“As a business owner, Louisiana notary and public tag agent, I have spent years helping families navigate some of life’s most important moments,” she said. “Those experiences have taught me the importance of listening, treating every person with dignity, being fair and remaining accessible whenever my community needs me.”
What a Justice of the Peace Does
A Justice of the Peace is a locally elected judicial officer. The position is separate from the parish council, law enforcement and the duties of a notary.
Louisiana Justice of the Peace courts generally handle smaller civil disputes within their geographical jurisdictions.
State law gives these courts civil jurisdiction concurrent with district courts when the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000.
Their responsibilities may include:
- Hearing certain small civil claims.
- Handling qualifying landlord-and-tenant disputes.
- Conducting eviction proceedings.
- Resolving disagreements involving movable property.
- Evaluating testimony and evidence.
- Issuing judgments based on Louisiana law.
- Performing marriage ceremonies and other authorized duties.
Louisiana law also authorizes Justice of the Peace courts to hear qualifying residential and commercial eviction cases within their territorial jurisdictions.
Although these courts are generally more local and less formal than district courts, their decisions can have significant consequences for families, tenants, property owners and small businesses.
The person elected must therefore approach every matter impartially, apply the law responsibly and treat everyone appearing before the court with respect.
Justice Rooted in Service
Hasten’s campaign seeks to connect the legal responsibilities of the office with the service values she says have guided her community work.
She believes justice begins with listening carefully, remaining accessible and ensuring that every person entering the courtroom is treated with dignity.
Her candidacy asks voters to consider not only what she promises to do, but also the work she has already performed throughout the community.
“I am not asking our community to believe in what I might do,” Hasten said. “I am asking you to look at what I have already done.”
The Justice of the Peace serves a six-year term, making the election a long-term decision about who should carry out an important part of Ward 2’s local judicial process.
A Campaign Focused on Listening
As Election Day approaches, Hasten says she plans to continue meeting with Ward 2 families, hearing their concerns and explaining her vision for an accessible, fair and community-centred court.
She has also expressed respect for others who have stepped forward to seek public office, recognizing the commitment and responsibility involved in offering oneself for public service.
“It would be the honor of my life to continue serving Ward 2 as your next Justice of the Peace,” Hasten said. “Thank you for allowing me to continue this journey with a grateful heart and an unwavering commitment to serve.”
Louisiana’s Secretary of State confirms that the election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
At Saint Gabriel Spotlight, our role is to help residents understand the candidates seeking to represent them and the responsibilities attached to each public office.
For TaMeshia “Shuntel” Hasten, the Ward 2 campaign is built around a simple conviction: justice is strongest when it begins with service, continues with fairness and treats every person with dignity.
