Three candidates qualify for District 9 Police Jury seat

By Malcolm Butler

Three candidates will compete for the District 9 seat on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury this fall, while only one of the parish’s justice of the peace races drew more than one candidate during qualifying.

Democrats Troy Brooks Sr., Nakisha R. Evans and Fredricka Dean White all qualified for the District 9 Police Jury seat and will face off in the Nov. 3 election.

The District 9 seat was vacated earlier this year when Joe Henderson passed away. His wife, Lynda Henderson, was elected by the current members of the LPPJ in February to replace Henderson for the duration of this calendar year, setting up this falls race.

The winner of the District 9 seat will serve the 2027 year with the seat coming up for re-election with the other 11 police jury seats next fall.

The Police Jury race is one of only two contested races among the parish offices included in this year’s qualifying for police juror, justice of the peace and constable.

The other will come in the Ward 5 justice of the peace race, where Terry Frazier, who listed no party affiliation, will face Republican Matthew Gaston. Both qualified Friday on the final day of qualifying.

The justice of the peace races in Wards 2, 3 and 4 each drew only one candidate.

Democrat Daphne Gallot-Knighton was the only candidate to qualify for justice of the peace in Ward 2, while Republican Annette Murphy was unopposed in Ward 3.

Latoya Gipson, who listed no party affiliation, was the only candidate to qualify for the Ward 4 justice of the peace position.

All four constable races were also uncontested following the conclusion of qualifying Friday.

Democrat Bobby J. Washington was the lone qualifier for Ward 2 constable, while Democrat David Kent was unopposed in Ward 3.

Diana Griffith, who listed no party affiliation, was the only candidate to qualify for Ward 4 constable, while Republican Don H. McDonald was the lone qualifier for Ward 5.

The two contested races will be decided as part of the Nov. 3 election.