(EDITOR’S NOTE: A complete list of those who qualified Wednesday on the first day of qualifying is attached at the end of the story.)

Qualifying for the Nov. 6 Louisiana election began Wednesday with multiple Teche Area residents seeking election or re-election. 

In Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, the largest number of open public office seats are for each parish’s respective school boards. The Iberia Parish School Board has 14 seats that candidates qualify for, 10 in St. Martin Parish and 11 in St. Mary Parish. 

Area residents also will be voting for state and federal positions in November. A new Secretary of State will be voted in after former secretary Tom Schedler resigned from office earlier this year. Candidates who qualified for that position Wednesday were A.G. Crowe, a Pearl River Republican, and Baton Rouge Democrat Renee Free. 

U.S. Congressman for the Third District Clay Higgins also will be seeking re-election this year, although Higgins did not qualify by the end of Wednesday. Rob Anderson and Mimi Methvin, both Democrats, did qualify for the race however, as well as Lafayette Republican Josh Guillory. 

Iberia Parish

By the end of Wednesday, 13 candidates had qualified for the 14 seats of the Iberia Parish School Board. In District 4, current IPSB member Thomas Jolivet will face off against former school board member and former New Iberia City Council member Raymond “Shoe-Do” Lewis. 

Both candidates qualified for the election on Wednesday. Other candidates who qualified included District 1 candidate Nursey McNeal, District 3 candidate Jay McDonald, District 5 candidate Debra Savoie, District 6 candidate Kim Lockett, District 7 candidate Dan LeBlanc, District 8 candidate Brad Norris, District 9 member Dana Dugas, District 11 member Kathleen Rosamond, District 13 candidate Danny Segura and District 14 candidate Kernic “Mushy” Fremin. 

Another seat is open for the Loreauville area is for constable in the area. Chad Hazelwood was recently appointed an interim constable after former constable Benjamin Hoffpauir retired from the position on July 1. 

St. Mary Parish

In St. Mary Parish, a sheriff’s race to replace former Sheriff Mark Hebert is underway, with four candidates already signed up for the position Wednesday. 

Interim Sheriff Scott Anslum qualified for the election, as well as Frank “Boo” Grizzafi, no party; Blaise Smith, a Democrat; Lonnie LaBouve, no party, and Carl Thornton, a Republican. 

Qualified candidates for the St. Mary Parish School Board included Joseph Foulcard Jr., Democrat, District 1; Sylvia Lockett, Democrat, District 2; Kenneth “Kenny Alfred, Republican, District 3; Pearl Barnes Rack, Democrat, District 4; Ginger Griffin, no party, District 5; Marilyn LaSalle, Democrat, District 6; Wayne Deslatte, no party, District 7; Ronald Joseph, Democrat, District 7; Michael Taylor, no party, District 8 and Roland Verret, Democrat, District 11.

Elections for mayor and chief of police for the town of Baldwin also will be held in November, but no one signed up for the mayoral seat by closing time Wednesday. Albert “Al” Thibodaux qualified for police chief. 

Herbert “H.B.” Bell, a Democrat, was the only qualifier for the five open Baldwin aldermen seats. 

Also in St. Mary Parish, Lianter Albert, no party, and Natchez “Trey” Morice, both of Morgan City, qualified for St. Mary Coroner. 

St. Martin Parish

Interim Parish President Chester Cedars was the only qualifier for the St. Martin Parish president position Wednesday. Cedars was appointed to the role earlier this year after the retirement of Guy Cormier. 

Thirteen candidates qualified for the 10 St. Martin Parish School Board seats Wednesday as well.

Those included Steve Fuselier, Democrat, District 1; Wanda Vital, Independent, District 2; Wanda Johnson, Democrat, District 2; Angel Boutte, no party, District 3; Aaron Flegeance, Independent District 3; Russel Foti, Republican, District 5; Vincent Alexander, Democrat, District 7; Floyd “Y” Knott, Republican, District 9; and Mark Hebert, Independent, District 10.

James “Jimmy” Blanchard, a Democrat, and Jimmy “Coach” Durio, will be squaring off for the District 4 seat. Pam Cormier, no party, and Frederic Stelly Jr., Republican, also will vie for the District 8 seat. 

St. Martin Parish also has open seats for the mayor and chief of police of Parks, both of which remained vacant by closing time Wednesday.  

Residents seeking public office can continue to qualify until Friday. To qualify, go to the Iberia, St. Martin or St. Mary Clerk of Court office from 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

QUALIFIERS AT A GLANCE

Louisiana Secretary of State

A.G. Crowe- Republican

Renee Fontenot Free- Democrat

U.S. Representative 3rd Congressional District

“Rob” Anderson-Democrat

Mimi Methvin- Democrat

“Josh” Guillory- Republican

Public Service Commission District 2

Craig Greene- Republican

Iberia Parish School Board

District 1

Nursey McNeal- Democrat

District 2

No candidates

District 3

Jay McDonald-Independent

District 4

Thomas Jolivet- Democrat

Raymond “Shoe-Do” Lewis- Democrat

District 5

Debra Savoie- Republican

District 6

Kim Lockett- Democrat

District 7

Dan LeBlanc- Republican

District 8

Brad Norris- Republican

District 9

Dana Dugas- Republican

District 10

Rachel Segura- No Party

District 11

Kathleen Rosamond- Republican

District 12

No candidates

District 13

Danny Segura- Independent

District 14

Kernic “Mushy” Fremin- Democrat

Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 3

Chad Hazelwood- Republican

St. Mary Parish

Court of Appeal 1st Circuit, 1st District Judge

Walter “Walt” Lanier III- Republican

Sheriff

Scott Anslum- No Party

Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi- No Party

Lonnie LaBouve- No Party

Blaise Smith- Democrat

Carl Thornton- Republican

Coroner

Lianter Albert- No Party

Natchez “Trey” Morice- Republican

St. Mary Parish 

School Board

District 1

Joseph Foulcard Jr.- Democrat

District 2

Sylvia Lockett- Democrat

District 3

Kenneth “Kenny” Alfred- Republican

District 4

Pearl Rack- Democrat

District 5

Ginger Griffin- No Party

District 6 

Marilyn LaSalle- Democrat

District 7

Wayne Deslatte – No Party

Ronald Joseph- Democrat

District 8

Michael “Mike” Taylor- No Party

District 9

No candidates

District 10

No candidates

District 11

Roland Verret- Democrat

Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 2

No candidates

Baldwin

Mayor

No candidates

Chief of Police

Albert “Al” Thibodaux- Democrat

Baldwin Aldermen (5)

Herbert “H.B.” Bell- Democrat

St. Martin Parish

Parish President

Chester Cedars- Republican

St. Martin Parish 

School Board

District 1

Steve Fuselier- Democrat

District 2

Wanda Vital- Independent

Wanda Johnson- Democrat

District 3

Angel Boutte- No party

Aaron Flegeance- Independent 

District 4

James “Jimmy” Blanchard- Democrat

Jimmy “Coach” Durio- Independent

District 5

Russel Foti- Republican

District 6

No candidates

District 7

Vincent Alexander- Democrat

District 8

Pam Cormier- No Party

Frederic Stelly Jr.- Republican 

District 9

Floyd “Y” Knott- Republican

District 10 

Mark Hebert- Independent

Constable Justice of the Peace Ward 5

No candidates