Fall’s ballot will be very crowded for area voters

By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor

The ballot will appear very crowded for Evangeline Parish voters this fall.
There will be a total of 20 races, including 13 directly affecting the parish, which voters will help decide during the gubernatorial primary held across Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 24th. Those state-wide races include: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, agriculture commissioner and insurance commissioner.
U.S. Senator David Vitter-Republican, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne-Republican and La. Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle-Republican are a few of the major candidates that have already declared in hopes of replacing Bobby Jindal as the state’s governor.
Sen. Elbert Guillory, R-Opelousas, has put his hat in the ring to replace Dardenne as Lt. Governor. East Baton Rouge Parish mayor Kip Holden-Democrat and Plaquemines Parish president Billy Nungesser-Republican have also declared for that race.
For races closer home, voters will be going to the poll to decide who will represent them in the senate for District 28, as well as representatives for Districts 38 and 41. In addition to those races, the seats in District 5 and 8 are up for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Harvey Bernard LeBas, D-Ville Platte, has represented District 38 (Basile area) since 2008. Eric Lafluer, D-Ville Platte, has represented District 28 in the state Senate since 2008.
Local residents will also be casting their ballot in key races across Evangeline Parish including sheriff, clerk of court, assessor, coroner and all nine spots on the police jury.
The early voting period for the Oct. 24 election is set for Oct. 10-17 with voting hours set between 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting can take place at the Evangeline Parish Court House located at 200 Court Street, Suite 102 in Ville Platte, the Mamou Library at 317 2nd Street in Mamou and Basile City Hall located at 3211 Railroad Street in Basile.