UPDATE
Following the death of Frankie Crosby, who was a candidate for alderman in Franklinton in the November election, candidate qualifying has been re-opened.
A new election date of December 7 has been set but this is just for Franklinton aldermen candidates only. The Franklinton mayor's election date remains November 5.
State law requires candidate filing to be re-opened when a candidate dies. Crosby was found dead in his pick-up truck Sunday morning at his house in Franklinton. (see related article.) He had been a candidate for alderman in Franklinton.
Quailfying was held at the Clerk of Court's Office in the courthouse on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A total of 4 new candidates qualified, joining the 6 candidates who had originally qualified. So there are now 10 candidates seeking the 5 Franklinton alderman positions.
The new election date for Franklinton aldermen candidates ONLY will be December 7. In the event a runoff is required, it will be held on January 11, 2025.
New candidates filing for Alderman are T.J. Butler Jr., Blake Orman, Brynnan Cooper, and Amanda Dillon.
Butler had decided to retire from the Board of Aldermen after many years of service, but with the death of Crosby he changed his mind and filed for election.
Also on the December 7 ballot for alderman will be incumbent Seth Descant, incumbent Patrice Crain, Lee Dillon, Richard Magee, Randy Reed, and Steve McCune.
The 10 alderman candidates break down into 5 Democrats: Crain, Magee, Reed, Butler, and Amanda Dillon;
3 Republicans: Descant, McCune, and Lee Dillon;
1 Libertarian: Cooper; and 1 Independent: Orman.
The December 7 election is just for Franklinton aldermen candidates. No other candidates on the ballot for the November 5 election will be changed --- the November 5 election will proceed as originally planned, with the exception of Franklinton aldermen candidates.
Meanwhile, because Crosby was a school board member in addition to running for alderman, a special election will be set to fill his school board seat for the two years remaining on his term. Depending on when the Washington Parish School Board declares his District 8 seat vacant and requests a special election, that election could possibly be held in March 2025. But it is a complicated process and the governor must issue a proclamation, so the date of a special election is not solid yet.
