by Kyle Roberts
Voters in three of Lincoln Parish’s municipalities will decide contested mayoral races this fall, while two villages will have mayors elected without opposition following the conclusion of qualifying Friday.
Grambling, Dubach and Choudrant will each have contested races for mayor on the Nov. 3 ballot, with races for police chief and municipal council seats also set across the parish.
In Grambling, Democratic incumbent Alvin Bradley and Democrat Edward R. Jones will face off for mayor, pitting a race between the past two mayors in the town.
Eight candidates, all Democrats, qualified for the five seats on the Grambling City Council. The field includes John F. Brown Jr., David Ferguson, Mary Goree Gipson, Cathy Holmes, Jerry Lewis, DeVaria Hudson Ponton, Delores Wilkerson Smith and Garnet Wagner I.
Dubach will have a three-candidate race for mayor with Republican Corey Beckham, Kimberly Gill, who listed no party affiliation, and Republican incumbent Mona Durrett Wilson.
Dubach voters will also decide a contested race for police chief between Don Dufour and Heath Humble, both of whom listed no party affiliation.
Two of the town’s five council districts will also feature contested races. Democrats Ruby Dawson and Etan Gipson will face each other in District A, while Republican Nathaniel Kyle Hennigan and Democrat Jennifer Tradewell will compete in District B.
Richard Stevens, who listed no party affiliation, was elected without opposition in District C. Democrats Evelyn Graham and Monique Roberts were unopposed in Districts D and E, respectively.
Choudrant will also feature races for both mayor and police chief.
Republicans Kip Franklin and Brandon J. Milner qualified for mayor, while Republicans John Clary and Willard Sullivan will compete for police chief. Current Choudrant mayor Bill Sanderson is not running.
Six candidates are seeking the three Choudrant alderman positions. Republicans John Croswell, Jake Haddox, Corey Martin and Bryce Rodgers are joined by Donald Guillotte and Rick Maier, both of whom listed no party affiliation.
Downsville and Simsboro, meanwhile, will have no contested municipal races.
Democrat Reggie Skains was the only candidate to qualify for mayor of Downsville, while Republican Garrick Walsworth was unopposed for police chief.
Exactly three candidates qualified for Downsville’s three alderman positions — Republicans Howard Allen and Sheree Allen and Myron Toft, who listed no party affiliation.
In Simsboro, Republican Kenneth Slocum Jr. was the lone candidate for mayor, while Democrat Gene Butler was the only qualifier for police chief.
Simsboro’s three alderman positions also drew exactly three candidates — Democrat Doug Durrett and Republicans Hazel Tuminello and Jerry L. White.
Vienna had one municipal position included in qualifying, with Republican Brent J. Gauthreaux the only candidate to qualify for the town’s council seat.
The contested municipal races will be decided in the Nov. 3 election.
Lincoln Parish municipal qualifying
GRAMBLING
Mayor (one elected): Alvin Bradley (D); Edward R. Jones (D)
City Council (five elected): John F. Brown Jr. (D); David Ferguson (D); Mary Goree Gipson (D); Cathy Holmes (D); Jerry Lewis (D); DeVaria Hudson Ponton (D); Delores Wilkerson Smith (D); Garnet Wagner I (D)
DUBACH
Mayor (one elected): Corey Beckham (R); Kimberly Gill (No Party); Mona Durrett Wilson (R)
Police chief (one elected): Don Dufour (No Party); Heath Humble (No Party)
Council District A: Ruby Dawson (D); Etan Gipson (D)
Council District B: Nathaniel Kyle Hennigan (R); Jennifer Tradewell (D)
Council District C: Richard Stevens (No Party) — unopposed
Council District D: Evelyn Graham (D) — unopposed
Council District E: Monique Roberts (D) — unopposed
CHOUDRANT
Mayor (one elected): Kip Franklin (R); Brandon J. Milner (R)
Police chief (one elected): John Clary (R); Willard Sullivan (R)
Aldermen (three elected): John Croswell (R); Donald Guillotte (No Party); Jake Haddox (R); Rick Maier (No Party); Corey Martin (R); Bryce Rodgers (R)
DOWNSVILLE
Mayor: Reggie Skains (D) — unopposed
Police chief: Garrick Walsworth (R) — unopposed
Aldermen (three elected): Howard Allen (R); Sheree Allen (R); Myron Toft (No Party) — all unopposed
SIMSBORO
Mayor: Kenneth Slocum Jr. (R) — unopposed
Police chief: Gene Butler (D) — unopposed
Aldermen (three elected): Doug Durrett (D); Hazel Tuminello (R); Jerry L. White (R) — all unopposed
VIENNA
Council member: Brent J. Gauthreaux (R) — unopposed
