UPDATE: In the Washington Parish School Board District 7 election, a decision will be officially announced on Thursday as to whether there will be a runoff. The decision will be made after voting machines from the district are examined. Incumbent School Board member Lee Alan McCain apparently finished exactly one vote short of what he would have needed to avoid a runoff election with the second place finisher, David "Big Dave" Pettit.
If the examination of the voting machines upholds the result from Tuesday, then McCain and Pettit will face off in a December 10 runoff. On Tuesday, McCain received 447 votes and Pettit received 379. Third place finisher Brynnan Cooper received 69 votes.
This will not be the only runoff in the School Board races. In the Mount Hermon area's District 1, candidates Keith Giles and Justin Brown will be in a runoff on December 10 and in the Franklinton area's District 8, candidates Frankie Crosby Sr. and Sarah Burris will also be in a December 10 runoff.
In District 6, longtime school board member Dewitt Perry was defeated by Scott Breland, and in District 9 incumbent school board member Lesley McKinley defeated challenger Gwen Pigott.
Here are vote totals for the Washington Parish Nov. 8 election, Complete details will appear in the next edition of The Era-Leader, and this article will be updated online.
PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
--District 1
Justin Brown 418 42% Runoff
Keith Giles 465 47% Runoff
Ray Wuerzer 108 11%
--District 2 Incumbent John Wyble elected without opposition
--District 3 Incumbent Bruce Brown elected without opposition
--District 4 Incumbent Kendall McKenzie elected without opposition
--District 5 Incumbent Robert Boone elected without opposition
--District 6
Dewitt Perry 439 39%
Scott Breland 701 61%
--District 7
Brynnan Cooper 69 8%
Lee Alan McCain 447 50% Runoff (Unofficial)
David "Big Dave" Pettit 379 42% Runoff (Unofficial)
--District 8
Sarah Burris 368 45% Runoff
Frankie Crosby Sr. 390 47% Runoff
Justina Marie Hart 13 2%
Nicki Magee 53 6%
--District 9
Lesley McKinley 439 70%
Gwendolyn Pigott 186 30%
Runoffs: Runoff election date is December 10.
Bogalusa Mayor --- In Bogalusa, 23 year old challenger Tyrin Truong handily defeated incumbent Mayor Wendy O'Quin-Perrette. He took 56% of the vote, challenger Teddy Drummond had 25% of the vote, and Perrette trailed with 19% of the vote. Recent homicides in Bogalusa, including one several weeks ago outside the Bogalusa High School football stadium, are believed to be one of the reasons for the defeat of O'Quin-Perrette.
Fire District Renewals -- In Fire Districts 5, 6, and 7, tax renewals were easily approved.
Senator -- Sen. John Kennedy swept the parish with 68% of the vote. He was reelected statewide overwhelmingly.
Congress -- Incumbent U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow collected 64% of the vote in Washington Parish, She won the 5th District race in a landslide, and will return to Congress for another term.
NOTE: A clarification on the potential runoff in Washington Parish School Board District 7 will be provided as soon as an official decision is announced, most likely on Thursday, November 10.
