Call her Mayor Mitchell

Published 6:00 am Sunday, April 29, 2018

ST. MARTINVILLE — Saturday night’s election proved the third time’s the charm for Melinda “Mel” Mitchell. 

The St. Martinville candidate was voted in as the city’s new mayor during Saturday night’s election, defeating incumbent Mayor Thomas Nelson. 

Election day began with an early voting turnout in Nelson’s favor. Out of the 889 St. Martinville who voted early, 578, or 65 percent, voted in Nelson’s favor. Nelson’s opponent, Melinda “Mel” Mitchell had 35 percent, or 311 early voters placing a vote in her favor. 

But by the end of Saturday, Mitchell had finished with 54 percent, or 1,153 voters total when all precincts had turned in their numbers. Nelson finished with 46 percent, or 999 votes in his favor. 

The unofficial turnout for the election was 49 percent. 

Mitchell, who has experience working in state government, previously has run for the mayoral seat twice; once in 2010 and again in 2014. She said last week she was running on a platform of community improvement and business development in St. Martinville. 

Mitchell, who reportedly was holding an election party at Lainey Arcade Center on Main Street, couldn’t be reached by phone before deadline Saturday. Nelson also was unavailable before deadline. 

“Don’t give up, no matter what it is, keep going,” Mitchell said in an Facebook video shortly after the results came in. “I want to thank God and let y’all know I’m going to be the best mayor.”

The runoff election was preceded by a primary election on March 24, when Nelson finished with 46 percent of the vote and Mitchell with 34 percent of the vote. Espinola Quinn and William “Tiger” Leon were the other two candidates at the time. 

Nelson, who was vying for his fourth term in office, has served as St. Martinville’s mayor for the past 12 years. Mitchell said last week that she was thankful for the mayor’s service to the city, but a new vision was needed moving forward. 

“I appreciate the 12 years that (Nelson) has served, but it’s just time for new energy and perspective,” Mitchell said last week. “St. Martinville is a beautiful, historic place but we need an uplift.”

In another St. Martinville race, District 4 has a new St. Martinville City Council member in Juma Johnson. Johnson received 65 percent of the vote, or 281 residents voting for her. 

She faced opponent Janise Anthony, who garnered 35 percent of the vote, or 154 votes in the election.