Qualifying begins for November election

Qualifying began Wednesday morning at the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court’s office for the election on November 3. The first candidate to qualify was Joseph “Joe” Brady for Constable Ward 3. Brady is pictured on the left as he signs the necessary paperwork. Also pictured is Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel. As of noon Wednesday, other candidates who qualified were (in no particular order) Gary Ortego for District Judge 13th Judicial District Court, Division A; Chuck R. West for District Judge 13th Judicial District Court, Division B; Lisa T. Doucet and Nicole Latour Snoddy for City Marshal City Court, City of Ville Platte; J. Michael “Mike” Causey for Justice of the Peace Ward 5; Michael “Gorilla” Fruge for Constable Ward 3; “Tim” Causey for Constable Ward 4; Joshua C. Estes for Chief of Police Village of Pine Prairie; Herbert “Ripp” Rippeon for Alderman District 2, Town of Basile; and Gretchen Long Lamke and Kevin P. Rodriguez for Aldermen Village of Pine Prairie. Qualifying ends Friday for these offices and for District Attorney 13th Judicial District Court; City Judge City Court, City of Ville Platte; Member of School Board District 2; Justices of the Peace Ward 2; Justice of the Peace Ward 3; Justice of the Peace Ward 4; Constables Ward 2; Constable Ward 5; Mayor Village of Pine Prairie. (Gazette photo by Nancy Duplechain)