Allen Parish voters thought Eddie Rispone might be a better leader at the state level than Governor John Bel Edwards, but they did support Kyle Ardoin, who won the vote at the state level, as secretary of state. Parish voters also re-elected Creig Vizena as District Four’s police juror.
Local voters also approved all three propositions on the ballot. (All returns are unofficial until numbers are rechecked this week.)
In October, Edwards led the parish with 2,343 votes followed by Eddie Rispone with 2,250 votes. However, it was Rispone that led the governor’s race locally with 3,911 votes last Saturday. Edwards had 2,332 votes. And Rispone led the state election until the final votes were counted Saturday evening when Edwards won by approximately 40,000 votes. Edwards received 774,476 votes and Rispone had 734,136 votes.
Ardoin received 4,436 votes in Allen Parish and 867,456 votes at the state level which helped him to keep his job as secretary of state.
In the runoff for police jury, District 4, Creig Vizena won with 571 votes. His challenger Joshua “Josh” Thompson received 535 votes.
All three propositions were approved by Allen Parish residents. Voters said yes to the Hospital Service District No. 3 (1,862 yes and 1,232 no). Previously, the hospital had a 12 mil tax on the books for 10 years. However, in order to get better rates and monies to build and imporve the hospital campus now, the tax had to be called for 30 years and as a new proposition. Personnel began working to educate the public on its plans to construct and improve its facilities in Kinder.
Jacqueline Costley-Reviel, CECO of the hospital, said, “Allen Parish Community Healthcare and I personally want to thank the community for supporting rural community healthcare by voting yes to our existing 12 mil tax, extending it for the next 30 years, and securing healthcare for this community and surrounding parishes. We look forward to providing quality, individualized healthcare for the next 30 years to our communities!”
The Town of Kinder’s one percent renewal was approved by 339 voters while 187 voters said no.
Kinder Mayor Wayland LaFargue said, “We are very appreciative of the voters going out and supporting us, the city council, police chief, employees, the town and myself. This is much needed money which is vital to our town’s day-to-day operations.”
Parish voters agreed with voters in Jeff Davis Parish to approve a $4 million bond issue for 20 years to make improvements to School District No. 22. The parish had 128 yes votes to 94 votes. Both districts cast a total of 503 yes votes to 339 no votes.
