Election: It’s a numbers’ game

By Bonnie Culverhouse

With 45 entries on Tuesday’s ballot, it took a while to get all results, Webster Parish Clerk of Court Holli Vining said Wednesday.

“There were a lot of mail-in ballots, but it’s not unusual,” Vining said. “They’ve increased a lot in the last couple of years.”

In this case, there were 1,036 mail-in ballots.

Vining said a scanner is used, however, if there is a problem with mail-ins, they must be counted by hand.

Registrar of Voters Angela Hall said there are 23,893 registered voters in Webster Parish. Just over 50 percent or almost 12,000 voted.

Webster Parish Journal ran an online poll preceding the election. An online poll should rarely be considered scientific. Some of the results were correct. Some, well, not so much.

Here are our rankings.

Minden Mayor

Online Poll ranking:

1. Nick Cox, 2. Terika Williams Walker, 3. Billy Mills

Actual vote ranking:

1. Nick Cox, 2. Terika Williams Walker, 3. Billy Mills

District A Minden City Council 

Online Poll ranking:

1. Carlton “Buddy” Myles, 2. Darrell Morris, 3. Wayne Edwards

Actual vote ranking:

1. Wayne Edwards, 2. Buddy Myles, 3. Darrell Morris

District B Minden City Council

Online Poll ranking:

1. Joey Frye, 2. Damien Kemp, 3. Levon “Charlie” Thomas

Actual vote ranking:

1. Levon “Charlie” Thomas, 2. Joey Frye, 3. Damien Kemp

District C Minden City Council:

Online Poll ranking:

1. Javelin Hardy, 2. Latasha Mitchell, 3. Maretta Gage, 4. Vincen “Cheese” Bradford

Actual vote ranking:

1. Vincen “Cheese” Bradford, 2. Latasha Mitchell, 3. Javelin Hardy, 4. Maretta Gage

District D Minden City Council

Online Poll ranking:

1. Habacu Morales, 2. Michael Roy, 3. LaKeyla Williams

Actual vote ranking:

1. Michael Roy, 2. Habacu Morales, 3. LaKeyla Williams

District E Minden City Council

Online Poll Ranking:

1. Andy Pendergrass, 2. Thomas Adams Jr., 3. Michael Fluhr

Actual vote ranking:

1. Andy Pendergrass, 2. Thomas Adams Jr., 3. Michael Fluhr

Minden Police Chief

Online Poll ranking:

1. Jared McIver, 2. Larry Morris

Actual vote ranking:

1. Jared McIver, 2. Larry Morris

Webster Parish School Board District 2

Online Poll ranking:

1. Debbie Thomas, 2. Terrell Mendenhall

Actual vote ranking:

1. Debbie Thomas, 2. Terrell Mendenhall

Webster Parish School Board District 4

Online Poll ranking:

1. Jonathan “Goose” Guthrie, 2. Jeri “JJ” O’Neal

Actual vote ranking:

1. Jonathan “Goose” Guthrie, 2. Jeri “JJ” O’Neal

Webster Parish School Board District 6

Online Poll ranking:

1. Jana Watson, 2. Fred Evans

Actual vote ranking:

1. Jana Watson, 2. Fred Evans

Webster School Board District 8

Online Poll ranking:

1. Glenda Sherrill. Broughton, 2. Phillip Michael Smart

Actual vote ranking:

1. Glenda Sherrill. Broughton, 2. Phillip Michael Smart

Mayor of Springhill

Online Poll ranking:

1. Ray Huddleston, 2. Ronnie Hearnsberger, 3. Courtney Allen

Actual vote ranking:

1. Ray Huddleston, 2. Ronnie Hearnsberger, 3. Courtney Allen

Mayor, Village of Doyline

Online Poll ranking:

1. Crystal “Christie” Gates, 2. Gary T. Carter

Actual vote ranking:

1. Crystal “Christie” Gates, 2. Gary T. Carter

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 1

Online Poll ranking:

1. D. Nicole Frazier, 2. Danyell Gipson

Actual vote ranking:

1. D. Nicole Frazier, 2. Danyell Gipson

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 2

Online Poll ranking:

1. Johnny Craig, 2. Dennis Smith

Actual vote ranking

1. Dennis Smith, 2. Johnny Craig

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 3

Online Poll ranking:

1. Patsy Leonard, 2. Stacey Willard, 3. Debra Rester

Actual vote ranking:

1. Stacey Willard, 2. Debra Rester, 3. Patsy Leonard

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 4

Online Poll ranking:

1. Alex Edwards, 2. Mike Whitlock

Actual vote ranking:

1. Mike Whitlock, 2. Alex Edwards

Alderman, City of Springhill, District 5

Online Poll ranking:

1. Derek Melancon, 2. Brandy White

Actual vote ranking:

1. Derek Melancon, 2. Brandy White

All results are unofficial until certified by the Louisiana Secretary of State. Vining said that should take place by noon Tuesday, Nov. 15.

The Congressional General Election will be held from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. That election will include any parish runoffs. Wednesday, Nov. 9 was the last day to register to vote for this election.

Early voting is from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Nov. 26 through Dec. 3 (excluding Sunday, Nov. 27). Deadline to request an absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 (other than military and overseas voters). Deadline for Registrar of Voters to receive absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 9.