Voters of Allen Parish selected state and local leaders on Saturday during the October 14, Gubernatorial election. Statewide and in Allen Parish, approximately 35 percent of registered voters cast their ballot in this election.
The biggest seat in the state was the governor’s race where Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, became ineligible to seek re-election due to term limits of eight years. Fifteen candidates spent months asking voters for their approval, and Jeff Landry, a Republican and the state’s former attorney general, captured the seat with 546,983 votes. (Total was 1,061,483, and the results were still unofficial at press time.) A candidate needs 50 percent to win. A runoff election date has been set for November 18, if necessary. Landry’s closest competition in the race was Shawn D. Wilson with 275,466 votes or 26 percent. In Allen Parish, Landry was top vote getter with 74 percent of the vote (3,280 out of 4,445 votes). Wilson also was in second place in the parish with 427 votes (10 percent).
William “Billy” Nungesser, who considered seeking the governor’s seat, decided to keep his seat as lieutenant governor. Statewide, he received 66 percent of the vote unofficially (677,756 votes) beating five other contenders. His closest competitor was Willie Jones with 211,938 votes (20 percent). In the parish results, Jones followed Nungesser, who received 3,077 (71 percent) with 459 votes (11 percent).
For secretary of state, Mike Francis led the parish with 40 percent of the vote (1,715) followed by Clay Schexnayder with 18 percent (794). Statewide, voters set a runoff unofficially between “Gwen” Collins-Greenup and Nancy Landry, who both received 19 percent of the vote. Collins-Greenup received 196,480 votes while Landry received 197,292 votes. R. Kyle Ardoin announced earlier in the year he was going to retire from the office.
The state’s attorney general also will be decided in November. Top vote getters were Lindsey Check (239,589 votes, 23 percent) and “Liz” Baker Murrill (462,571 votes, 45 percent). In Allen Parish, Murrill received 50 percent of the vote (2,159). However, “Marty” Maley (757) and John Stefanski (754), both received 18 percent of the vote.
Another runoff was set in the state treasurer’s race between John Fleming, who received 44 percent of the statewide vote (442,058 votes), and Dustin Granger, who received 32 percent (321,304). The top vote getters among parish voters were Fleming at 67 percent (2,839, 67 percent) and Scott McKnight (766 percent, 18 percent).
In District 4 of the BESE race parishwide, Stacey Melerine (1,934 votes, 46 percent) and Paige Hoffpauir (1,622 votes, 38 percent) were the top vote getters. However, statewide, Melerine (55,297, 47 percent) will face Emma Shepard (35,850, 30 percent) in the November runoff.
Allen Parish had six police jury races. In District One, Ruffin George Jr. (60 percent, 164) was the unofficial winner. Charles Gosey received 22 percent (59 votes), and David E. Allison received 19 percent (51 votes).
District Three’s race was won by Adam Hussong with 67 percent (373 votes). Ervin Willis received 33 percent (186 votes).
District Four resulted in a runoff between “Joe Perkins (41 percent, 257 votes) and Robert Neil Cole (34 percent, 211 votes). Glen Jeffrey Bruce received 25 percent of the vote (152).
District Five was won by “Tony” Hebert, the present police jury president, with 69 percent (412 votes). Leonard Duplechain received 31 percent (184 votes).
In District Seven, Chad Sanders (63 percent, 401 votes) beat his opponent Leonard Pitre (37 percent, 231 votes).
Roland Hollins won District Eight with 83 percent (523 votes). Jesse Gonzales had 17 percent (108 votes).
Parish voters agreed to continue the four mills millage for maintaining the courthouse and parish jail.
Reeves had five different propositions to sell alcohol in the village, in hopes of attracting a business selling gas, etc., and residents approved all five. Residents said yes to wet/dry – six percent package alcohol (76 percent, 58 out of 76 votes); yes to wet/dry – six percent concentrated alcohol (65 percent, 46 out of 75 votes); yes to wet/dry – one-half percent concentrated alcohol (76 percent, 56 out of 74 votes); yes to wet-dry – one-half packaged alcohol (61 percent, 46 out of 75 votes); and yes to wet/dry – restaurant (69 percent, 52 out of 75 votes).
In this election, voters said yes to all four state constitutional amendments on the ballot. Number One, prohibiting the use of private funds in the administration of elections, passed with 73 percent statewide (733,578 votes and 77 percent parishwide with 3,244 votes). Number Two, providing for the freedom of worship, passed with 79 percent statewide (804,864 votes, 88 percent parishwide with 3,743 votes). Number Three, dedicates certain payments to be applied to the state retirement system unfunded accrued liability, received 56 percent of the vote statewide (558,997 votes and 60 percent parishwide at 2,518 votes). Number Four, restricting ad valorem tax exemptions for certain nonprofit organizations, was approved by 66 percent of the vote statewide (660,721 and 63 percent statewide with 2,629).
