Special Elections on Oct. 19 and Nov. 16 Ballots

Voters in Ward 3, District 3 in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish will go to the polls Oct. 19 to choose a new Justice of the Peace.  Judge Melva Cavanaugh, 74, died in March, and Gov. Bobby Jindal called a special election to fill her seat.

In the Central Community School District, voters will go to the polls Nov. 16 to decide whether to authorize $13 million in additional school improvements.  The bonds would be paid for with existing taxes.

In addition, several candidates have already announced that they are running in next year’s elections.  In Central, Jr. Shelton, who narrowly lost a race for Mayor in 2010, has announced he is running in the April 5, 2014, municipal elections.  Dave Freneaux has also announced his candidacy for Mayor.

Congressman Bill Cassidy and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness are running for the U. S. Senate against incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu in the fall 2014 election.

To replace Cassidy as 6th District Congressman, businessman Paul Dietzel and Metro Councilman Ryan Heck have announced their candidacies.

Seeking the Justice of the Peace seat on Oct. 19 this year are:

• Attorney Kenesha Antoine

• Attorney and school board member Jerry Arbour

• Attorney J. Rodney Baum

• Petroleum engineer and Desert Storm veteran Mariano Hinojosa

• Attorney and former candidate for Mayor-President Steve Myers,

• Attorney Mark G. Simmons

• Businessman and former pastor Larry Spencer

The Nov. 16 bond election in Central is for

• Construction of a new Ninth Grade Academy at Central High School

• Improvements to the parking lot at Central High

• Installation of lighting at the Central High baseball and softball fields

• Removal of buildings no longer in use on the campus of the old Central Middle School

Under the plan, the existing 23.65-mill property tax would decline over the next 20 years.

Another election will be going on Oct. 19 to fill a vacancy in Congress from Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district.  The leading candidates are former Cong. Clyde Holloway, Mayor Jamie Mayo of Monroe, Rep. Jay Morris, and Sen. Neil Riser of Columbia.  None of East Baton Rouge is in this district.