VIDALIA, La. — At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, candidates had already crowded into the Concordia Parish Clerk of Court’s Office to qualify to run in March’s municipal elections.

When the dust had settled, both Concordia Police Juror Gene Allen and former mayor Glen McGlothin had both signed up to run for Ferriday mayor.

The Rev. Justin Conner qualified for the race later in the day but could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.

The race is wide open since Mayor Odeal Montgomery decided this week not to run for the post, which she leaves June 30.

&uot;Ferriday has a lot of potential, and we want to make it one of the most progressive cities in this area,&uot; Allen said. &uot;We want to clean up the streets, go after any government grants that are available, … and make Ferriday a better place to live. We want to continue the progress Mayor Montgomery has made.&uot;

&uot;We need better leadership, … and we need to look into getting our water from other places, exploring all the options,&uot;&160;said Glen McGlothin, mayor from 1988 to 1996. &uot;We need find out what other areas are doing to improve their economies and work with the towns in our area to improve ours.&uot;

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland also qualified Wednesday to run for his third term as mayor. &uot;We’ve got to finish what we’ve started, … and do even more improve the quality of life in Vidalia,&uot;&160;Copeland said. &uot;And I’m looking forward to it.&uot;

Projects started during Copeland’s terms include a development on Vidalia’s riverfront and drainage, street and water plant improvements.

He said he wants to continue to work to establish a port in Vidalia.

Others who qualified Wednesday included:

n Vidalia Police Chief Billy Hammers and Vidalia Board of Aldermen incumbents Carter Warner of District 1, Vernon Stevens Jr. of District 2 and Ricky Knapp, Bill Murray and Maureen &uot;Mo&uot; Saunders of District 3.

n Incumbent Billy Rucker and Bill Latham for the Ferriday Town Council’s District A seat; Councilman Sammy Davis Jr. for District D; and incumbent Dorothy Johnson and James Skipper for District E.

n Mayor Wilbert Washington and Police Chief Rogers Hollins Jr. of Clayton.