By Bonnie Culverhouse & Paige Nash
Webster Parish has made its wishes known with the 2022 elections, many of which will not require a runoff. To avoid a runoff requires 50 percent plus one vote.
Minden’s new mayor is Nick Cox. With 18 of 18 precincts reporting, Cox received 2,121 votes or 53 percent, which means there will not be a runoff with contenders. Terika “Reek” Walker came in behind him at 1,534 votes or 38 percent, while Billy Mills garnered 362 votes or 9 percent.
Cox said his campaign slogan was “Moving Forward Together.”
“Tonight’s election results prove that all across our community, that message resonated with our fellow citizens,” Cox said. “I’m humbled by the support from our residents. Thank you, and I look forward to Minden’s future.”
Minden’s new police chief is Jared McIver with 2,189 votes or 56 percent of the vote to Larry Morris’ 1,701 votes or 44 percent.
McIver said he is feeling a sense of gratitude and humbleness at the same time.
“I am thankful to God, my family and friends who worked hard in this election,” he said. “I want to thank Larry Morris for running a good campaign. My best wishes to him and his family in the future.”
McIver also congratulated all the other candidates that won last night and sent best wishes to those that will be in run offs.
“Our work now begins,” he added. “The citizens of Minden believed in our message and I want to put that message into action. It won’t be an over night fix, but it is fixable and we will work diligently to ensure folks feel safe.”
With 100 percent of the precincts in, the rest of the elections are as follows. • Denotes winner, * Denotes runoff.
Webster Parish School Board – District 2:
Terrell Mendenhall – 289 or 39 percent
• Debbie W. Thomas – 452 or 61 percent
Webster Parish School Board – Dist. 4:
• Jonathan “Goose” Guthrie – 724 or 64 percent
Jeri “JJ” O’Neal – 406 or 36 percent
Webster Parish School Board – Dist. 6:
Fred Evans – 446 or 37 percent
• Jana Watson – 762 or 63 percent
Webster Parish School Board – Dist. 8:
• Glenda Sherrill Broughton – 645 votes or 64 percent
Phillip Michael Smart – 357 or 36 percent
Springhill voters will go back to the polls for their mayoral election. There will be a runoff between Hearnsberger and Huddleston.
Mayor – City of Springhill:
Courtney Allen – 260 or 18 percent
* Ronnie Hearnsberger – 494 or 34 percent
* Ray Huddleston – 682 or 47 percent
Mayor – Village of Doyline:
Gary T. Carter – 97 or 44 percent
• Crystal “Christie” Gates – 125 or 56 percent
Alderman – Dist. 1 Springhill:
• D. Nicole Frazier – 229 or 69 percent
Danyell Gipson – 103 or 31 percent
Alderman – Dist. 2 Springhill:
“Johnny” Craig – 51 or 34 percent
• Dennis Smith – 99 or 66 percent
Aldermen – Dist. 3 Springhill:
Patsy Leonard – 52 or 21 percent
Debra Rester – 55 or 22 percent
• Stacey Willard – 144 or 57 percent
With a two-vote margin, votes for Dist. 4 Alderman in Springhill will have to be recounted. At this time, the unofficial vote goes to “Mike” Whitlock
Alderman – Dist. 4 Springhill:
“Alex” Edwards – 142 or 50 percent
• ”Mike” Whitlock – 144 or 50 percent
Alderman – Dist. 5 Springhill
• Derek Melancon – 218 or 60 percent
Brandy White – 147 or 40 percent
Aldermen – Village of Dixie Inn:
Anthony Crittenden – 7 or 18 percent
• ”Nell” Finlay – 32 or 82 percent
There will be a runoff in Dist. A Minden City Council between incumbent Wayne Edwards and Carlton “Buddy” Myles
Councilman – Dist. A, Minden:
* Wayne Edwards – 336 or 47 percent
Darrell Morris – 85 or 12 percent
* Carlton “Buddy” Myles – 297 or 41 percent
Unless official totals differ, Levon “Charlie” Thomas is the new Dist. B Minden City Council by 6 votes.
Councilman – Dist. B Minden:
Joey Frye – 245 or 39 percent
Damien Kemp – 68 or 11 percent
• Levon “Charlie” Thomas – 319 or 50 percent
District C voters will be heading back to the polls in December to choose between incumbent Vincen Bradford and Latasha Anderson Mitchell.
Councilman – Dist. C Minden:
* Vincen “Cheese” Bradford – 279 or 46 percent
Maretta Gage – 79 or 13 percent
Javelin Lashundria Hardy – 100 or 16 percent
* Latasha Anderson Mitchell – 153 or 25 percent
Incumbent Michael Roy will keep the District D council seat
Councilman – Dist. D Minden:
Habacu Morales – 205 or 27 percent
• Michael Roy – 408 or 53 percent
LaKeyla Jacob Williams – 157 or 20 percent
District E has a new city councilman, with Andy Pendergrass taking the majority of the votes.
Councilman Dist. E, City of Minden:
Thomas Adams Jr. – 308 or 26 percent
Michael Fluhr – 93 or 8 percent
• “Andy Pendergrass – 781 or 66 percent
U.S. Senate John Kennedy carried Webster Parish with 8,188 votes or 68 percent of the vote. With 60 of 64 parishes in, Kennedy led by 65 percent and is on course to sail back into office without a runoff.
All results are unofficial at this time.