FERRIDAY — Two men, one a newcomer and one with past experience in the job, are vying for the position of justice of the peace in District 1.

The Rev. Justin Conner would be the incumbent candidate had he not resigned the position in 2007 to run for parish clerk of court, and that is why he decided to run for the position.

“I decided when I resigned to run for clerk, that if my endeavor did not make it I would come back,” Conner said.

Challenger Glen Petty said his decision to run was based on a desire to serve.

“I feel like I could have something to offer the people of this district,” he said. “I thought I would offer the people something different. Nobody was challenging (Conner), and I thought I would offer them an alternative.”

After 20 years in the engineering industry as a pipe engineer, Petty said he has worked around a lot of people and served on various committees.

“I can be fair and can render a fair decision,” he said.

Along with his previous experience as justice, Conner said his involvement as a community activist as the leader of the Tri-Parish Ministerial Alliance, the Catahoula-Concordia NAACP and other community organizations, as well as being a minister, has equipped him for the job.

“I will be for the people in the district, and will give them leadership and make the right rulings as I have previously done,” he said.

The justice of the peace is the judge of the district-level justice court. Along with performing marriages, justices of the peace settle civil disputes in which the amount disputed does not exceed $5,000.