by Malcolm Butler
Lincoln Parish voters will have two contested judicial races to decide this fall, including a three-candidate race for Ruston City Judge and a two-candidate contest for the Division B seat on the 3rd Judicial District Court.
Addison Goff, Gina Jones and Mike Smith qualified for Ruston City Judge, while Phillip Ellis and Lewis Jones will face off for the Division B district judgeship. Goff and Smith qualified as Republicans, while Jones qualified with no party affiliation.
Both candidates in the Division B race qualified as Republicans. Ellis and Jones are both Ruston residents, according to qualifying records.
The other two 3rd Judicial District Court races drew only one candidate each. Monique Clement, a Republican from Ruston, was the lone candidate to qualify for the Division A seat. Bruce Hampton, a Republican from Ruston, was the only candidate to qualify for the Division C seat.
The 3rd Judicial District serves Lincoln and Union parishes.
The race for 3rd Judicial District Attorney also drew only one candidate. Cary Brown, a Republican from Ruston, was the lone candidate to qualify for the position.
“I look forward to working each day with our partners in law enforcement to help keep our communities safe,” said Brown in a statement his campaign party released. “Criminals will be held responsible for their actions and the rights of everyone, particularly the rights of victims of crime, will be upheld. Our communities deserve strong, fair, and prompt administration of justice.”
Two judicial races higher on the ballot also drew only one candidate each.
Jay McCallum, a Republican from Farmerville, was the lone qualifier for associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 4th Supreme Court District.
Jeff Cox, a Republican from Shreveport, was the only candidate to qualify for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal, 2nd District, at-large seat.
The contested races will be decided as part of the Nov. 3 election.
Judicial and District Attorney Qualifying
Associate Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court, 4th District
- Jay McCallum — Republican
Judge, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal, 2nd District, At Large
- Jeff Cox — Republican
3rd Judicial District Court, Division A
- Monique Clement — Republican
3rd Judicial District Court, Division B
- Phillip Ellis — Republican
- Lewis A. Jones — Republican
3rd Judicial District Court, Division C
- Bruce Hampton — Republican
3rd Judicial District Attorney
- Cary Brown — Republican
Ruston City Judge
- Addison Goff — Republican
- Gina Jones — No Party
- Mike Smith — Republican
