BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

St. Martinville native and resident Eric Martin will face Lafayette resident and New Iberia native Terry Landry in a Nov. 19 runoff election for the newly created state House District 96 seat.

Martin received 3,760 votes for 41 percent of the vote, while Landry received 32 percent of ballots cast with 2,939 votes.

Both candidates held their campaign parties in the Teche Area, Martin celebrated with friends and family in downtown St. Martinville and Landry’s party was at a venue off of Dale Street in New Iberia.

“This is home, this is where my roots are,” Landry said Saturday night. He said he plans to “hit the ground running” continuing his campaign today and is thankful for all the support he has received.

“We will continue to try to get our message out,” Landry said. “I’ve worked in every form of government in this state and I believe I am highly qualified. This is a very diverse district and the job is to take care of those who are most vulnerable and that includes children and senior citizens. As legislators, that is what we are here to do. That is our message.”

On Saturday night, Martin said he was “elated” to learn he was in the runoff for the House seat and said this election has turned his campaign team into a family.

“We could not be more excited. This has been a great campaign,” he said. “We have truly become less of an team and more of a family. There are some great people working with us.”

Martin said his ability to relate to all people in his district has earned him support.

“This is such a diverse district, we’ve got some of the wealthiest people in Acadiana and we’ve also got some of the poorest, and I believe I am able to adjust and relate to everyone.”

Six candidates in all were vying for the House seat which was created after the special legislative session earlier this year following the 2010 Census.

New Iberia candidate Raymond “Shoe Do” Lewis received 931 votes for 10 percent of the vote. Breaux Bridge resident Richard Potier received 7 percent with 611 votes. Vincent Alexander, also of Breaux Bridge, received 509 votes at 6 percent and Nary Smith of St. Martinville received 5 percent with 493 votes.

House District 96 is a minority majority district that covers portions of Iberia, Lafayette and St. Martin parishes. Voter turnout in all three parishes was 34.2 percent.