By Bonnie Culverhouse
As Day One of qualifying drew to a close, quite a number of candidates – some expected, some unexpected – threw their hats into the Webster Parish political ring.
And some incumbents seem to be waiting and watching before joining the crowd. Perhaps the largest group of incumbents already filing are running for Webster Parish School Board.
Margaret Edens, District 1, Springhill is running for re-election. At the end of the first day of qualifying, she had no opposition.
District 2 member Malachi Ridge had not filed, but Debbie W. Thomas, also of Springhill tossed her hat into the school board ring.
District 3 incumbent Charles Strong of Sarepta filed, as did Shongaloo’s Jeri “JJ” O’Neal and District 5’s Ronald Rhymes of Cotton Valley.
Fred Evans of Minden is looking for four more years for District 6. None of the above has a challenger yet.
In District 8, Phillip Michael Smart of Minden, is challenging Glenda Sherrill Broughton who was appointed to fill her late husband’s seat.
Longtime board members Johnnye Kennon, District 10, Jerry Lott District 11 are so far unopposed, as is Susan Addington in District 12.
By 5:30 p.m., no one had filed for District 7. The incumbent is Linda Kinsey.
Two candidates have filed for Springhill mayor. They include Ronnie Hearnsberger and Ray Huddleston. Huddleston is the incumbent in that race.
No one has yet filed for mayor of Dixie Inn, Doyline or Heflin. Nick Cox has filed for mayor of Minden. So far, he is unopposed, following the death of Mayor Terry Gardner.
Several districts are seeking police chiefs, including Minden. Current Chief Steve Cropper says he is not running for re-election. Jared McIver and Larry Morris Jr. have filed for that office.
In Springhill, incumbent and long-time chief Will Lynd has filed for re-election unopposed. Cotton Valley has two candidates thus far: Donald Dillard Jr. and Sante Douglas Jr. No one has filed for chiefs of Doyline or Heflin.
Springhill alderman filers are District 1 – D. Nicole Frazier; District 2 – no one; District 3 – Stacey Willard; District 4 – no one; District 5 – Brandy White.
No one has yet filed to be an alderman of Dixie Inn, Doyline or Heflin.
Councilpersons for City of Minden include District A – Darrell Morris and Carlton “Buddy Myles; District B – Damien Kemp; District C – Javelin Hardy; District D – Habacu Morales and Michael Roy (currently seated after being appointed to fill the seat vacated by Keith Beard); and, District E – Thomas Adams Jr. and Andy Pendergrass.
Incumbents Wayne Edwards (District A), Terika Williams-Walker (District B) and Vincen Bradford (District C) have not yet filed. District E councilwoman Pam Bloxom will not be seeking re-election.
For a wrap-up of qualifying, watch for a special Saturday edition of the Webster Parish Journal at websterparishjournal.com.
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