Washington Back on Campaign Trail, Vance Surging

Central’s April 5th municipal elections are just two days away, and the candidates for the Central City Council have stepped up their campaign efforts.
Eleven candidates are seeking five seats on the Council. Now Central Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Washington is back on the campaign trail after a bout with diabetes put him in the hospital.  Tuesday Washington said he is feeling much better and expects to be at full speed soon. Washington said he has had circulatory problems in his legs but those were resolved with a treatment that cleared his arteries.  At one point, doctors had discussed amputating a toe but that ended up not being necessary. “Thanks to a lot of prayer by the people of Central and my family, I have recovered, and I am feeling good,” he said.  “I am excited about serving the people of Central for the next four years, and I would greatly appreciate your vote and support in the election this Saturday.”

Washington is one of three incumbent members of the Central City Council who are seeking reelection to the Council.  The other two are Wayne Messina and Aaron Moak.
Messina, who narrowly lost a race for the Metro Council in 2008 and was first elected to the Central City Council in 2010.  He came in 3rd out of nine candidates for the City Council.
In this election, Messina is putting up his own traditional campaign signs.  But he is also putting out signs that say, “Drive Like Your Children Live Here” in an effort to remind drivers of the dangerous condition of many of Central’s roads. Councilman Messina will be hosting an election night party at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Greenwell Springs Road.

Councilman Aaron Moak was campaigning with his two boys last Saturday.

Dr. Kim Fralick is running a strong race for the Central City Council.  If elected, she would be the first woman on the Council since Joan Lansing.  Mrs. Lansing served from 2006 to 2010.

Council candidate Shane Evans has held an event called “Grillin’ the Candidates,” every Saturday morning at Central Perk from qualifying through the election.  Citizens and a number of candidates have attended to ask questions and exchange ideas.

In years past, Central voters were used to voting in at-large elections.  At-large elections were held for state senator, state representative, Metro Council, and school board.  However, today the only at-large race of any type that Central votes on is the Central City Council. Voters will cast up to five votes for City Council.  Eleven candidates are running.  In order to be elected in the April 5 primary, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast and be one of the top five vote-getters. It is possible for a candidate to get a majority of the votes cast and still lose.  Intuitively, that doesn’t seem possible, but it assuredly is.
For example, in the March 29, 2010, primary, Councilwoman Joan Lansing received 52.5 percent of the votes cast but lost because she ran 6th in the balloting.
If fewer than five candidates receive a majority in the primary, there will be a runoff election on Saturday, May 3.
The runoff will include twice the number of candidates as unfilled seats remaining.  For example, if three candidates are elected to the City Council on April 5, the runoff will be for the two remaining seats.  So the next four candidates will participate in the runoff election.
In the primary, voters can vote for up to five candidates for the City Council but voters may vote for fewer than five.  The voting machine will not allow you to vote for more than five candidates.

All of the candidates running in this election are Republicans.
The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish has endorsed Jr. Shelton for Mayor, James Salsbury for Chief of Police, and six candidates for the City Council — Shane Evans, Dr. Kim Fralick, Wayne Messina, Harry Rauls, John Vance, and Ralph Washington.

In addition to the Republican Party, Mayoral candidate Jr. Shelton has been endorsed by the Homebuilders and by the Realtors association.
His opponent, Dave Freneaux, has been endorsed by Central Speaks, the paper he founded which is currently owned by his daughter, Wayne Leader, and Sid Edwards.