Candidates qualify for Oct. 24 primary
At the close of qualifying for the Oct. 24 primary, there were some old faces and some new faces.
There is nothing more satisfying if you are an incumbent than to go unopposed. But those three days of qualifying is always a nail-biting experience for incumbents.
In the state legislative races, five area legislators can relax because they are elected to another four year term. They are District 37 Sen. Barrow Peacock (R) and Reps. Barbara Norton (D-District 3), Thomas Carmody (R-District 6), Mike Johnson (R-District 8), and Gene Reynolds (D-District 10).
In Senate District 39, where the voter registration is 69 percent black, incumbent Sen. Greg Tarver (D), who is an African-American, has an opponent in Jim Slagle (O) of Vivian, who is white. Incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Morris in House District 1 has an opponent in “Mike Chicken Commander” Boyter, who is a Democrat. And in House District 5, Republican incumbent Alan Seabaugh did not get a free ride. He is being challenged by Eileen Velez, a Democrat.
There are six open area legislative seats. In Senate District 36, where Republican Sen. Robert Adley is term-limited, three candidates qualified – Rep. Henry Burns (R), Ryan Gatti (R), and Todd Hollenshead (D). In Senate District 38, where Republican Rep. Sen. Sherri Smith Buffington is termlimited, four candidates stepped forward to vie for the seat. They are Rep. Richie Burford (R), Cloyce Clark (R), John Milkovich (D), and Jamayel Warren (D). Burford, Clark, and Milkovich are white; Warren is black.
Rep. Roy Burrell (D-District 2) is termlimited. Qualifying for that seat were former City Councilman Sam Jenkins (D) and Teremce Vinson (D). Another open seat is in House District 7 where Burford vacated to run for the Senate. Three Republicans are in that race – Larry Bagley, Steve Casey and Perry McDaniel. And in House District 9, where Burns left to run for the Senate, Dodie Horton (R) and Mike McHalffey (R) are seeking that seat.
The big buzz of qualifying came on the last day at the last hour when former Shreveport Mayor Cedric Clover signed up to run for the House District 4 seat. Incumbent Rep. Patrick Williams (D) decided not to seek re-election. But Glover will have to fight to win his old House seat. Also qualifying were Reginald Johnson and Fred Moss IV.
The race for Caddo District Attorney promises to be controversial and contentious. All previously announced candidates qualified. They are LeLeshia Walker Alford (D), Lee Harville (NP), Mark Rogers (D), Casey Simpson (R), James Stewart Sr. (D), and Dhu Thompson (R). Harville, Rogers, Simpson, and Thompson are white; Alford and Stewart are black.
The Caddo Commission has been embroiled in controversy, so it is not surprising that some incumbents face opposition. There will be at least three new faces when the new Commission convenes. In District 6, Lindora Baker resigned before qualifying. She recommended Lynn Cawthorne (D) as her replacement. He qualified, but so did Steffon Jones (D).
Commissioner Mike Thibodeaux (R) decided not to seek re-election in District 9. The only qualifier was John E. Atkins (R), and he is, therefore, elected. And in District 10 where Commissioner David Cox (R) is term-limited, two candidates – Benjamin Arnold (R) and Mario Chavez (R) are running for the seat.
Two incumbent Commissioners are unopposed – Doug Dominick (R-District 1) and Stormy Gage-Watts (D-District 7). Other incumbents will have to battle to keep their seats. Incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson (D-District 2) has two challengers – Linda Trevino Goeders (O) and Michael Thomas (D). Incumbent Michael Williams (D-District 3) has two challengers – Steven Jackson (D) and Johnny Williamson (D). Incumbent Matthew Linn (R-District 4) has one opponent in Charlotte Crawley (O). Incumbent Jerald Bowman (D- District 5), who will be listed on the ballot as J. Bowman, got a surprise opponent when term-limited state Ray Roy Burrell (D) qualified against him.
Incumbent John Escude (R-District 8) has two opponents. One is retired deputy sheriff Mike Middleton (R). The other is MPC chairperson Lea Desmarteau (R), but sources said she may have a residency issue. Incumbent Jim Smith (R-District 11) is being challenged by Parker Ward (R). And incumbent Ken Epperson (D-District 12) has an opponent in James Heard (D).
In the 11-parish Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) race, the two announced candidates, Mary Johnson Harris (R) and Glynis Johnston (R), both from Shreveport, got a surprise when Tony Davis (R) of Natchitoches qualified.
Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator (R) has two constables who want to take his badge. They are Eric Hatfield (D) and John McGrew (R). Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington (R) is unopposed, but DeSoto Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle (NP) is being challenged by Gary Hobbs (NP). Webster Sheriff Gary Sexton (D) has no opposition. In what is considered another surprise, Caddo Assessor Charles Henington Jr., a white Democrat, had Artis Cash, a black Democrat, qualify against him. And over in Bossier, Assessor Bobby Edmiston (R) also has an opponent –Patsy Maggio (R).
Caddo will have a new Clerk of Court.
Gary Loftin decided to retire and Chief Deputy Mike Spence was the lone qualifier for the post and is elected. In Bossier, Clerk of Court Cynthia Johnston decided not to seek re-election. Monica Hudson (R) and Jill Sessions (R) qualified.
Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or [email protected].
