Qualifying begins

By News Staff on Thursday, August 10, 2023
  • Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel was the first person to qualify for the upcoming October elections. Qualifying began on Tuesday, August 8, and runs will end today, August 10, at 4:30 p.m. Deshotel is seeking his fourth term as clerk and is pictured as he signs the form which will be sent to the secretary of state’s office. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
    Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel was the first person to qualify for the upcoming October elections. Qualifying began on Tuesday, August 8, and runs will end today, August 10, at 4:30 p.m. Deshotel is seeking his fourth term as clerk and is pictured as he signs the form which will be sent to the secretary of state’s office. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

    By: TONY MARKS
    Editor

    The ballot for the October elections began taking shape as prospective candidates filled out their necessary paperwork during the qualifying period which began on Tuesday, August 8.
    The first to qualify Tuesday morning was Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel, who is seeking his fourth term. Next in line at the clerk’s office was Angelica Thomas Williams, who is running for police jury in District 8.
    Races on the ballot include parish races from sheriff to police jury, and statewide races include everything from governor to commissioner of insurance.
    The following is a list of candidates who qualified as of press time on Wednesday, August 9.
    State Senator
    28th Senatorial District:
    Heather Cloud
    State Representative
    38th Representative District:
    Rhonda Leger Butler, Todd McKellar
    State Representative
    41st Representative District:
    Phillip R. DeVillier
    Sheriff:
    Charles R. Guillory
    Clerk of Court:
    Randall M. “Randy” Deshotel
    Assessor:
    “Chris” Guillory
    Coroner
    Thomas G. Fontenot M.D.
    Police Juror District 1:
    Freeman Celestine, Keith Saucier
    Police Juror District 2:
    Jamie Fontenot, Sidney Fontenot
    Police Juror District 3:
    Ryan Ardoin
    Police Juror District 4:
    “Tim” Causey, Lelia Johnson Thrasher
    Police Juror District 5:
    Kevin Veillon
    Police Juror District 6:
    Brent Guillory, Eric B. Soileau, Donald R. Vidrine
    Police Juror District 7:
    Kevin “Cabon” Fontenot, Bryan Vidrine
    Police Juror District 8:
    Darion “Brother” Arvie, Earl “Tenny” Doucet, Angelica Thomas Williams, Sherman “DeeDee” Wilson
    Police Juror District 9:
    Daniel Arvie
    Governor:
    Patrick Henry “Dat” Barthel, Oscar “Omar” Dantzler Jr., Xavier Ellis, Sharon W. Hewitt, Jeffery Istre, “Xan” John, Hunter Lundy, John Schroder, Shawn D. Wilson
    Lieutenant Governor:
    Elbert “Pawpaw” Guillory, “Tami” Hotard, William “Billy” Nungesser, Chester Pritchett
    Secretary of State:
    “Gwen” Collins-Greenup, “Mike” Francis, Thomas J. Kennedy III, Nancy Landry, Clay Schexnayder, Brandon Trosclair
    Attorney General:
    “Marty” Maley, “Liz” Baker Murrill, John Stefanski, Perry Walker Terrebonne
    Treasurer:
    John Fleming, Dustin Granger, Scott McKnight
    Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry:
    Michael G. “Mike” Strain
    Commissioner of Insurance:
    “Tim” Temple, R.D. “Rich” Weaver
    BESE District 8:
    Preston Castille