Early voting starts Saturday
Early voting for the March 24th election starts Saturday, March 10, and will continue through Saturday, March 17.
Register of Voters Golda Ensminger said office hours will be from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The register's office will be close Sunday, March 11.
Ensminger said 13,718 voters are eligible to cast ballots in the upcoming referendum.
Voters will select aldermen and a police chief in Vidalia. aldermen in Clayton, a mayor in Ferriday and police jurors parishwide. Aldermen elections in Ferriday will be held later this year.
Two mayors -- Hyram Copeland of Vidalia and Rydell Turner of Clayton -- were unopposed during the qualifying period in December. Ferriday's mayor, Glen McGlothin, is not seeking re-election.
Four candidates qualified for the Ferriday's mayoral post, including former mayor Gene Allen, Fire Chief Joe Sontoya, alderman Johnny Brown and pastor Justin Conner.
In Vidalia, three incumbent aldermen -- Joe Betts, Ricky Knapp and Maureen "Mo" Sanders -- were reelected without opposition to the three at large positions in District 3.
In Clayton, Police Chief Clarence "PaPa" Skipper was unopposed, while in Vidalia, parish deputy Todd Ainsworth is challenging incumbent police chief Arthur Lewis Sr.
Seven candidates qualified for Clayton's five at large aldermen posts.
Eight of the parish's nine police jurors drew opposition with 27 candidates qualifying. Only Randy Temple of District 3A in Vidalia is unopposed.
Candidates include:
POLICE JURY
District 1A: Carey Cook, Ferriday; Marcus T. Martin, Ferriday.
District 1B: Steve D. Gray, Clayton; "Joe Bear" Parker, Clayton.
District 2: Willie J. Dunbar, Vidalia; Anthony "Bro Man" Lewis, Vidalia; Fred "Coach" Marsalis, Vidalia; Richard White, Vidalia; Betty Albert Wilson, Vidalia.
District 3A: "Randy" Temple, Vidalia (unopposed).
District 3B: "Whest" Shirley, Vidalia; Raymond "RC" West, Vidalia.
District 4A: Jerry Beatty, Ferriday; Curtis Nelson, Vidalia.
District 4B: Melvin Ferrington, Ferriday; Michael Lyles, Ridgecrest; David Turner, Ridgecrest; Jimmy "Boo" Wilkinson, Ferriday.
District 5A: Jack Crane, Jonesville; Karl Davis, Ferriday; "Jimmy" Jernigan, Jonesville; Samuel "Tom" Lowry, Ferriday; Kari Tarver, Ferriday; Wilbur "Steel Bill" Washington, Clayton.
District 5B: Kent Campbell, Monterey; "Tim" Charrier, Acme; Tommy "Red" Tiffee, Monterey.
CLAYTON
Aldermen (five to be elected): Floyd L. Barber, Blanche "Sandy" Clayton, Willie L. "Bill" Evans, Houston Holmes, Irene Jefferson, Leroy Kelly, Shannon Burns Madison.
FERRIDAY
Mayor: Gene Allen, Johnnie Brown, Justin "The Preacher" Conner, "Joe" Sontoyo.
VIDALIA
Chief of Police: Todd Ainsworth, Arthur K. Lewis Sr.
Alderman District 1: Frank Duson, Audrey Johnson Gray, "Tron" McCoy.
Alderman District 2: Vernon Stevens, Randy Young.For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition! |
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