JEANERETTE — Stationed at his campaign headquarters on Main Street, Carol “Bro Carol” Bourgeois Jr. was nothing if not thankful when the final numbers for Saturday night’s election popped up. 

The former Jeanerette tax collector and volunteer on numerous Iberia Parish boards and commission couldn’t stop smiling after the crowd of supporters erupted in applause at his victory over incumbent Mayor Aprill Foulcard and former Iberia Parish Councilwoman Aquicline Rener-Arnold for the Jeanerette mayoral election. 

“First and foremost, all of the praises and the honor goes to our Heavenly Father,” Bourgeois said, speaking after the victory. “It’s been a precious run, I just want to thank God for the strength, the health and the mindset for me to do what he put in my heart to do.”

Bourgeois handily won the election with no need for a runoff with Rener-Arnold. He garnered 55 percent, or 603 votes, by the end of Saturday night while Rener-Arnold took home 27 percent, or 295 votes. 

Foulcard only finished with 19 percent, or 205 votes. Unofficial voting turnout was 32 percent.

The new mayor will have plenty to contend with when he takes office. Jeanerette has been under fiscal administration since last year after a decision from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Fiscal Review Committee last year.

Since then, fiscal administrator David Greer has been working in Jeanerette to straighten out town finances and other issues such as water and sewer.

The town also elected a new alderman to Ward 4 after Saturday’s election. Louis Lancon defeated incumbent Kenneth Kern to become new alderman for the ward.

Lancon won with 83 percent, or 199 votes, while Kern finished with 17 percent, or 42 votes.

In the only other Teche Area ballot item, St. Mary Parish voters in Franklin overwhelmingly voted to renew a 10 mill tax for Hospital Service District No. 1. 

Eighty-eight percent, or 1,183 votes, was the final number for local residents who voted in the affirmative to renew the tax. Twelve percent, or 168 votes, were against the proposition. Unofficial turnout was 10 percent.