By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor
For the first time in more than a dozen years, someone other than Terry Savant will hold the title of Mayor of Pine Prairie.
The qualifying period for the November 8, 2016 election ended on Friday at 4:30 p.m. There will be a few races Evangeline Parish voters will have to decide in the fall, but none bigger than the mayor’s race in the village of Pine Prairie.
Pine Prairie Alderman Quint West will face off against Wade Deshotels Sr. to see who will replace the longtime mayor Savant, who opted not to seek a fourth-straight elected term due to sexual harassment claims that surfaced back in June.
In a report obtained by The Ville Platte Gazette, Town Hall Clerk Kristan Bordelon told police of multiple incidents of sexual harassment by Savant. The two sides came to an agreement that Bordelon would not file a complaint against Savant as long as he no longer worked at the town hall office while finishing out his current term, and also not seek reelection this coming November.
Pine Prairie Police Chief L.C. Deshotel meanwhile will be running against one of the officers in his own department as Pine Prairie Police Department Detective Joshua C. Estes qualified to run on Friday morning.
A total of four people will be running for the three Pine Prairie Alderman spots. Current aldermen Tammy H. Hammond and Debbie Oge qualified on Thursday, as did Gilbert J. Bordelon. Gregory Savant meanwhile added his name on Friday.
Paul Tate Jr. meanwhile ran also unopposed to finish out the rest of the term for the Ward 3 Justice of the Peace. Ward 3 covers Mamou, Reddell, Vidrine and part of Pine Point. Pam Hall had been appointed as interim Justice of the Peace but could not run for election.
Also in Ward 3, Charles Perdices will face Michael “Gorilla” Fruge for Constable. Perdices has served as interim Constable for Ward 3 the past few months, after Brent Zackery resigned the position after he was elected as Mamou Chief of Police in March.
In addition to the local races, parish voters on November 8, will also be voting for President, U.S. Senator and U.S. House of Representative for 4th District.