10-14-19
Republican leaders working to oust the Deep South’s only Democratic governor are trying to put their intraparty backbiting behind them ahead of Louisiana’s November runoff. The GOP hierarchy, both nationally and locally, is seeking to unify support behind businessman Eddie Rispone against Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards in the Nov. 16 election. They’re hoping supporters of third-place finisher, Republican Ralph Abraham, will shift their backing to Rispone and move past the Rispone-led attack ads that hobbled Abraham’s campaign. President Donald Trump already tweeted his support for Rispone in the head-to-head matchup, signaling other Republicans should do the same.
THERE IS ONE OTHER STATEWIDE ELECTION THAT IS GOING TO A RUNOFF. SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN ONLY GOT 41 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND WILL BE CHALLENGED BY DEMOCRAT GWEN COLLINS GREENUP. ALL OTHER STATEWIDE RACES ARE DECIDED AS EACH OF THE INCUMBENTS WON REELECTION.
IN STATE SENATE RACES FROM OUR AREA, REPUBLICAN MARK ABRAHAM OF LAKE CHARLES TOOK 54 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO BECOME THE NEW SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 25 REPLACING RETIRED SENATOR BLADE MORRISH. IN A THREE PERSON RACE, REPUBLICAN HEATHER CLOUD OF TURKEY CREEK GARNERED 63 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO TAKE DISTRICT 28, REPLACING DEMOCRAT ERIC LAFLUER OF VILLE PLATTE, WHO DID NOT RUN. REPUBLICAN MIKE REESE OF LEESVILLE IS THE NEW SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 30
IN SELECT STATE REPRESENTATIVE RACES, REPUBLICANS JONATHAN GOUDEAU AND GUS RANTZ WILL MEET IN A RUNOFF TO REPLACE NANCY LANDRY, WHO WAS TERM LIMITED. REPUBLICAN PHILLIP TARVER OF LAKE CHARLES TOYOTA IS THE NEW DISTRICT 36 REPRESENTATIVE, WINNING 62 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. IN THE RACE TO REPLACE JOHNNY GUINN OF JENNINGS AS THE DISTRICT 37 REPRESENTATIVE, REPUBLICANS TROY ROMERO AND SHALON LATOUR, BOTH OF IOWA, WILL MEET IN A RUNOFF. REPUBLICAN RHONDA BUTLER OF VILLE PLATTE IS THE NEXT STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 38, REPLACING DEMOCRAT BERNARD LEBAS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE PETE HUVAL OF BREAUX BRIDGE WILL HAVE TO GO TO A RUNOFF TO MAINTAIN HIS SEAT AS HE GOT 44 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND WILL FACE A CHALLENGE FROM FELLOW REPUBLICAN KEITH BAUDIN. MEANWHILE REPUBLICANS BEAU BEAULIEU AND RICKY GONSOULIN OF NEW IBERIA WILL FACE OFF FOR THE DISTRICT 48 SEAT.
BESE BOARD MEMBER HOLLY BOFFY OF MILTON WON REELECTION TO ANOTHER TERM FOR DISTRICT SEVEN FENDING OFF A CHALLENGE FROM TIMMIE MELANCON.
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IN LAFAYETTE PARISH RACES, REPUBLICAN JOSH GUILLORY AND INDEPENDENT CARLEE ALM-LABAR WILL FACE OFF TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR PRESIDENT, REPLACING JOEL ROBIDEAUX. MEANWHILE, ASSESSOR CONRAD COMEAUX EASILY WON REELECTION.
IN THE ONLY PARISHWIDE RACE IN ACADIA PARISH, CLERK OF COURT ROBBIE BAROUSSE EASILY WON REELECTION.
TWO INCUMBENT SHERIFFS, MIKE COUVILLON OF VERMILLION PARISH AND BOBBY GUIDROZ OF ST. LANDRY PARISH, BOTH WON REELECTION. IBERIA AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES WILL HAVE NEW SHERIFFS AS THE CURRENT SHERIFFS DID NOT SEEK REELECTION. IN ST. MARTIN PARISH, REPUBLICAN BECKET BREAUX WON A THREE PERSON RACE WITH 60 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. MEANWHILE THERE WILL BE A RUNOFF IN IBERIA PARISH BETWEEN TOMMY ROMERO AND MURPHY MEYERS.
LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT BILL FONTENOT ONLY GOT THIRTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN HIS REELECTION BID. HE WILL FACE OFF AGAINST KEN MARKS, WHO GARNERED 32 PERCENT.
IN THE RACE TO REPLACE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO, TWO CANDIDATES WILL MEET IN A RUNOFF, JOHN GOTT AND MARK HERFORD. MEANWHILE ALLEN PARISH SHERIFF DOUG HEBERT EASILY WON REELECTION TO ANOTHER TERM.
THERE’S NEW INFORMATION ON THE MISSING CROSS FROM MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH IN OPELOUSAS, ONE OF THE CHURCHES DESTROYED BY ARSON EARLIER THIS YEAR. HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO.
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