11-9-16
State Treasurer John Kennedy and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell are headed to a Dec. 10 runoff for Louisiana’s open U.S. Senate seat. The men were the top two vote-getters among two dozen contenders for the job. Top contenders who didn’t reach the runoff include: Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, Democratic lawyer Caroline Fayard and Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming. The seat is open because Republican David Vitter didn’t run for re-election.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER SCOTT ANGELLE AND FORMER ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY CLAY HIGGINS, BOTH REPUBLICANS, WILL FACE OFF IN THE DECEMBER TENTH RUNOFF FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. ANGELLE TOOK 29 PERCENT OF THE VOTE WHILE HIGGINS TOTALLED 26 PERCENT. NONE OF THE REMAINING NINE CANDIDATES EVEN GOT TO DOUBLE FIGURES. THE WINNER OF THE RUNOFF WILL REPLACE SIX TERM CONGRESSMAN CHARLES BOUSTANY.
IN A CLOSE RACE, JUDGE JIMMY GENOVESE EDGED JUDGE MARILYN CASTLE TO WINT THE LOUISIANA THIRD DISTRICT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SEAT. GENOVESE DEFEATED CASTLE 51 TO 49 PERCENT. THE DISTRICT COVERS MUCH OF ACADIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. GENOVESE CREDITED HIS HOME PARISH, ST. LANDRY, WITH GIVING HIM THE WIN, WHICH GAVE HIM NEARLY 25 THOUSAND VOTES, AND CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH HE WON.
MIKE FRANCIS IS THE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT FOUR, REPLACING THE LATE CLYDE HOLLOWAY. FRANCIS RECEIVED 54 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO AVOID A RUNOFF. HIS CLOSEST CHALLENGER, MARY WERNER, TOOK 33 PERCENT OF THE BALLOTS CAST.
NEW IBERIA HAS A NEW MAYOR. REPUBLICAN FREDDIE DECOURT WON THE RACE OUTRIGHT WITH 56 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, DEFEATING TWO OTHER CANDIDATES. MEANWHILE, THE LONG-TIME MAYOR OF DELCAMBRE WAS OUSTED. MAYOR CAROL BROUSSARD, WHO HAD SERVED FOR 24 YEARS AS THE TOWN’S MAYOR, WAS DEFEATED BY INDEPENDENT PAM BLAKELY, WHO TOOK 59 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
LAKE CHARLES VOTERS APPROVED RENEWING A ONE CENT SALES TAX THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE 1986. THEY ALSO APPROVED THREE PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS. THE FOUR TAXES COMBINE TO RAISE MORE THAN 31 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CITY, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 26 PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
OAKDALE HAS A NEW POLICE CHIEF. INCUMBENT SCOTTY LABORDE WAS DEFEATED BY CHALLENGER, JOSEPH LOCKETT, WHO GARNERED 59 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
MORE THAN TWO MILLION LOUISIANIANS VOTED IN YESTERDAY’S ELECTION. THAT’S A 67-POINT-1 PERCENT TURNOUT. THAT’S SHORT OF THE RECORD OF 67-POINT-9 PERCENT SET IN 2012. A LITTLE MORE THAN 68 PERCENT OF LAFAYETTE VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS, JUST SHORT OF CLERK OF COURT LOUIS PERRET’S PREDICTION OF 70 PERCENT. THE TURNOUT IN CALCASIEU PARISH WAS 64 PERCENT.
A SECOND CROWLEY TEEN HAS DIED FROM A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLY MONDAY MORNING. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD HAS IDENTIFIED THE SECOND VICTIM AS 18-YEAR-OLD DAYTON HARMON. THE OTHER TEENAGER KILLED, 17-YEAR-OLD JARIUS WILSON, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING. BROUSSARD SAYS DETECTIVES ARE DILIGENTLY FOLLOWING LEADS ON THE CASE TO FIND THE SHOOTER OR SHOOTERS, AND ASK ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 789-TIPS.
