Ferriday mayor race pits uncle, nephew

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 29, 2000

FERRIDAY, La. — The race for Ferriday mayor is wide open, with the current mayor not running and six candidates, including an uncle and his nephew, vying for the post.

Hubert Lee McGlothin, who has served as Ferriday mayor and Concordia Parish sheriff, signed up at the Clerk of Court’s Office Friday to run against nephew and former mayor Glen McGlothin, who qualified Wednesday morning.

Neither could be reached for comment Friday evening. As of earlier this week, Hubert Lee McGlothin had been uncertain whether he would run. &uot;But I&160;won’t do anything that isn’t good for Ferriday,&uot;&160;he said Tuesday.

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And after months of speculation that he would seek the Ferriday mayor’s post, School Board member Johnnie Brown signed up to run just minutes before 5 p.m. Friday deadline. Brown said he would comment at a later date.

Alex Promise also qualified to run for mayor Friday but could not be reached for comment that evening.

Gene Allen, a 12-year veteran of the Concordia Police Jury, and local pastor and Justice of the Peace Justin Conner signed up Wednesday to run for mayor.

&uot;What I&160;want to do is move Ferriday forward,&uot;&160;Conner said when he visited the clerk’s just moments before the qualifying deadline.

All candidates except Brown, who qualified as an independent, signed up as Democrats. The primary election will be held March 14, with a general election to be held April 15.

In addition, no Ferriday Town Council member is running unopposed.

On Friday, Ferriday resident and businessman Mitch Ashmore qualified to run for the District B council seat against incumbent Bob D. Jones.

Elijah Banks, who last fall run unsuccessfully against Carey Cook for the District 1, Place A Police Jury seat, signed up to run against incumbent Sammy Davis Jr. in District D.

Earlier in the week, Bill Latham signed up to run against incumbent Billy Rucker for the District A seat, Jerome Harris Sr. qualified against incumbent Gail Pryor in District C and James Skipper qualified against Councilwoman Dorothy Johnson in District E.

In Vidalia, Mayor Hyram Copeland, Police Chief Billy Hammers, and aldermen Carter Warner, Ricky Knapp, Bill Murray and Maureen &uot;Mo&uot; Saunders are unopposed. Bert Small will run against Alderman Vernon Stevens Jr. in District 2.