Ridgecrest &8212; Two citizens of Ridgecrest qualified for the vacant seat on the city&8217;s board of aldermen Thursday.

Douglas J. Tisdale and Derrick White are in a race for the fifth seat.

Tisdale has lived in Ridgecrest for 50 years and is a member of the Ridgecrest fire department.

He said he was persuaded in his decision to run for alderman by other members on the board.

&8220;If elected, I would like to work towards repairing a few of the roads of the town and maybe modernize the town&8217;s fire department,&8221; Tisdale said.

Derrick White, 28, has lived in Ridgecrest for only five years but has lived in Concordia Parish all his life.

White just started his position as principal of Ferriday High School after being assistant principal at Ferriday Jr. High for three years.

&8220;I&8217;m running so I can give something back to the community in which I live,&8221; White said.

White said he would like to see the children&8217;s recreational park in Ridgecrest revitalized, and with added security so that children can be safe.

&8220;I also just want to assist the mayor and his agenda for Ridgecrest,&8221; White said.

The closing date for qualification was Friday, August 11 but Concordia Parish Clerk of Court, Clyde Webber Jr. said the law mandates if an office is fewer than the number of people filled in that office, the qualifying period must be reopened the following Wednesday after the first qualifying period.

&8220;It is still not too late for anyone else who wishes to enter the race because the period doesn&8217;t end until 5 p.m. Friday,&8221; Webber said.

Anyone else wishing to qualify for the aldermen position can contact the Concordia Parish Clerk of Court from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday.