By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor
A trio of incumbents were reelected to their positions on the Evangeline Parish Police Jury on Saturday night.
Bryan Vidrine of District 7, Lamar Johnson of District 4 and Eric Soileau of District 6 all won by receiving at least 58 percent of the vote to keep their respective seats.
“I just want to thank the people for going out to vote today,” Vidrine said. “The people in District 7 have spoken and apparently they are happy with how things are going in this district.”
Vidrine received 58 percent of the vote as Kevin Cabonet came in second with 26 percent and Grant Soileau followed in a distant third with 16 percent of the vote.
Fontenot promised that he will be campaigning once again in 2019.
“I personally would like to thank everyone that went out and voted in the weather today and even though you didn’t vote for me, I want to thank you anyway for going out and doing your civic duty,” Fontenot said. “I will see you again in four years.”
Lamar Johnson was elected to a third straight term in District 4 as he won 69 percent of the vote against challenger Robert Johnson.
“The people have decided,” Lamar Johnson said. “It’s pretty simple. People are either satisfied with who they got in office or they choose someone else.”
Soileau meanwhile won re-election in District 6 defeating challenger Donald Vidrine by taking 75 percent of the vote.
While three of the five races were won by incumbents, District 2 and District 9 were not.
Sidney Fontenot defeated incumbent Kenny Burgess for the District 2 seat as he narrowly won with 52 percent of the vote.
“I would like to thank the people for their time and the kind words expressed to me during this campaign,” Sidney Fontenot said.
Burgess expressed his gratitude in defeat.
“I want thank everyone for the past four years,” Burgess said. “I pray the winner continues with the work ethic and standards that have been put in place.”
The District 9 seat, left open by the retirement of longtime juror Richard “Blood” Thomas, meanwhile will need to be decided with a runoff. The runoff will pit Daniel Arvie who received 48 percent against Shawn Gallow who took 29 percent of the vote. Gerald “Big D” Alfred finished in third with 23 percent and will miss the runoff.
“First thing I like to thank God for this opportunity, and secondly I would like to thank my family and all my supporters who supported and even the ones that didn’t support me,” Arvie said. “I would also like to thank my two opponents and also thank the people in District 9. I will be knocking on their doors asking for their support for the runoff.”
The runoff election will be held statewide on Nov. 21.