Election Day Issues and Candidates

Do you think there are enough people running for Mayor this time around? Well, this Saturday we'll get a chance to at least narrow the field when it comes to voting for the next mayor of Lake Charles. Kind of hard to beleive, but there are a total of 8 candidates for mayor. Now, with 8 people running for the same office, we're almost certain to face a run0off election. When the dust clears, one of the eight will be our new mayor filling the position that has been held very admirably by our current mayor, Randy Roach who has served in the office for 17 years. So, who is running for mayor?

Lake Charles Mayor

• Leon "Joe" Banks (DEM)
• Wilford Carter, Sr. (DEM)
• Eligha Guillory, Jr. (DEM)
• Nicholas "Nic" Hunter (REP)
• Dana Carl Jackson (DEM)
• Chris Landry (DEM)
• Gary Monbelly (DEM)
• Marshall Simien, Jr. (DEM)

There are 5 city council seats that must be filled and there's quite a pack running for each seat.Two incumbents on the city council, John Ieyoub and Stuart Weatherford are running with no opposition. Here are the City Council Candidates:

Lake Charles City Council - District A

• Christopher Archinard (DEM)
• Cary A. Chavis (DEM)
• Kecee Lewis (NOPTY)
• Mary Morris (DEM)
• Ron Richard (DEM)

Lake Charles City Council - District B

• Luvertha August (DEM)
• Lashawnda Bartie (DEM)
• Fantacee Brown (NOPTY)
• Nicole J. Moncrief (DEM)
• Lionel Taylor (DEM)

Lake Charles City Council - District C

• Eric Doshier (DEM)
• Rodney Geyen (DEM)
• Nadine Dunbar Gills (DEM)
• Priscilla Sam (DEM)
• Randy L. Thibodeaux (DEM)

Lake Charles City Council - District F

• Jerry Adams (DEM)
• Michael Cuba, Jr. (DEM)
• Craig Marks (DEM)
• "Rick" McClain (REP)
• Kelvin Dexter Naylor, Sr. (DEM)
• Johnnie Thibodeaux (NOPTY)

Lake Charles City Council - District G

• Mark Eckard (REP)
• Khalid Taha (REP)

There are a number of big races Saturday. Jennings and Vinton are voting for mayors, while Vinton is also deciding on a police chief.

Here are candidates running for positions from around the area:

Vinton Mayor

• Chad Ivery Perry (L)
• Kenny Stinson (DEM)

Vinton Chief of Police

• Ricky Fox (DEM)
• Laura Oliver (REP)
• Michael "M. Tyler" Roach (REP)

Vinton Town Council

(Five to be elected)

• Bliss Bujard (REP)
• Hubert "Gilly" Gaillard (OTHER)
• Stephanie Hardy (DEM)
• Richard "Fats" Huval (OTHER)
• "B.B." Loyd (DEM)
• Paul Patin (DEM)
• Patrick Vice (REP)

While all that is going on, voters in Westlake will find two propositions on their ballot this Saturday.

City of Westlake Prop. No. 1 -- 1% S&U - CC - 10 Yrs.

• Shall the City of Westlake, Louisiana (the "City"), under the provisions of Article VI, Section 29 of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, and other constitutional and statutory authority, be authorized to continue to levy and collect a tax of one percent (1%) ("Tax"), with annual Tax collections estimated to be $1,000,000, upon sale at retail, use, lease or rental, consumption and storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property, and sale of services within the City, for a period of ten (10) years beginning July 1, 2017, with Tax proceeds dedicated to constructing, acquiring, improving, operating and maintaining Fire Department stations and equipment, sewerage facilities, and public parks and recreational facilities and supplementing the cost of salaries and benefits of City employees, and be authorized to fund the proceeds of the Tax into Bonds to pay the cost of making capital improvements for any of the aforesaid purposes?

City of Westlake Prop. No. 2 -- 1/2% S&U - CC - 10 Yrs.

• Shall the City of Westlake, Louisiana (the "City"), under the provisions of Article VI, Section 29 of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, and other constitutional and statutory authority, be authorized to continue to levy and collect a tax of one-half percent (1/2%) ("Tax"), with annual Tax collections estimated to be $500,000, upon sale at retail, use, lease or rental, consumption and storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property, and sale of services within the City, for a period of ten (10) years beginning October 1, 2017, with Tax proceeds dedicated to improving, operating and maintaining the City's Police Department, and be authorized to fund the proceeds of the Tax into Bonds to pay the cost of capital improvements for such purposes?