With several forums and months of campaigning behind them, New Iberia’s three mayoral candidates are confident about the message they’ve tried to send throughout the year.

Former mayor pro tem and local businessman Freddie DeCourt said his name recognition combined with door-to-door conversations and rallies for his candidacy have boosted his confidence.

“The response has been really good,” DeCourt said. “I think it takes awhile to get your message across but I think we’ve done everything that we can do.

Decourt’s campaign began in January during a function for the Bayou Teche Museum. The campaign began gaining traction around March, he said.

With more campaign funds than either candidate and recognition in the community, DeCourt said local residents know how much he cares for the community.

“I think people really understand my 30 years of business experience,” he said. “They feel that I know what I’m getting myself into, and even if I didn’t when I would still be active in the community.”

Roy Crews III became visible as a candidate shortly after he qualified in July. The former employee at the Department of Children and Family Services has run his campaign on a platform of libertarian principles that he said has resonated.

“Throughout this whole thing, I’ve only met one guy who asked ‘What can you do for me?’ ” Crews said. “Everyone else really likes the idea of a government and do what you want as long as you’re not hurting anybody.  

One of the central issues to Crews’ campaign has been the recreation of a New Iberia Police Department, particularly since the election has run parallel to the federal trial of Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal, which ended Friday.

Crews said he believes he’s made his strongest impression when meeting people face-to-face.

“Every now and then someone wants to discuss something with me and that makes my day,” he said. “It’s been a lot of different perspectives. I like to think I’m on a listening tour.”

Given the other two candidates made public their mayoral bids long before qualifying in July, Crews said educating the public on his message and platform has been fast-paced but succesful. 

“Obviously it looks like I’m catching up because I am catching up all the time,” he said.

Former high school teacher Steven Stansbury said he’s been thrilled with this election. The interactions between the three candidates have been nothing but “gentlemanly.”

“I think it could be a model for the presidential election,” Stansbury said with a laugh.

Stansbury has taken his campaign to as many places as he could, he said. From barber shops to meat markets, Stansbury said his natural inclination to talk to people has been an asset for his campaign and voters have responded kindly in turn.

“It takes me an hour to get through Winn Dixie,” he said. “People keep telling me ‘We’re voting for you,’ so somebody must be saying something.”

Stansbury, who has a background in real estate as well as education, said people have responded most positively to his “Grow New Iberia” slogan in which he focuses on bringing families back to the city.

“They (voters) want the city to grow. They want new businesses here,” he said. “They’d like new clothing stores, a variety of different stores.”