By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III
Managing Editor
Early voting for Saturday’s election was higher than March’s election.
Nearly 300 people, 293 to be exact, took part in the early voting period that ran from April 15 to 22. That was far higher than the early voting period for the March 25th election in which only 252 voted early for an election that had a dozen tax renewals on the ballot.
“We need to participate in our civic duties and go vote,” Evangeline Parish Registrar of Voters Lucas Buller said. “Early voting turn out was higher than the March election which is a good sign, but I still wish we had more people voting.”
Voters in Evangeline Parish will have one multi-parish race to cast their ballot for on Saturday, as well as a few renewals involving school districts.
The runoff for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals (District 3) will be decided Saturday. Voters will choose between a pair of Lafayette-based attorneys in Candyce Perret and Susan Theall, both registered Republicans. The winner will serve the remaining term of Judge Jimmy Genovese, who won a seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court last year.
The 3rd Court of Appeals consists of 21 parishes, with District 3 encompassing Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion Parishes.
All Evangeline Parish voters will vote Saturday on a parishwide property tax renewal of 10.35 mils for a period of ten years with the purpose of giving additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools.
Voters in Consolidated School District No. 2 will be voting on a renewal for a 12.32 property millage for ten years which is for maintenance, textbooks and instructional aids.
Basile residents meanwhile will be voting on a separate renewal as well, with a property tax of 6.19 mils for a period of ten years for the purpose of maintaining and operating Basile High School and W.W. Stewart Elementary School.