One day left in parish campaigns

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 3, 2008

VIDALIA — With only one day left until the election, candidates on Saturday’s ballot are kicking their campaigns into high gear.

So far, approximately 845 in-person and mail-in ballots have been cast, leaving candidates with a field of approximately 93 percent of Concordia Parish’s registered voters to capture.

District attorney candidate Brad Burget said he has been busy the last few days, and the public is energized about the election.

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“Everybody is excited about it,” he said.

Attorney Andy Magoun, who is also in the district attorney’s race, said interest in the race has picked up over the past few weeks because of the local debates.

The third candidate in the race, Ronnie McMillin, agreed, but said that at this point he thinks most minds are made up.

“It kind of reaches a congealing point,” he said. “Up until about a week before the election, people are talking to their friends and asking who they should vote for, but by now they’re starting to make their minds up.”

That’s not going to stop his campaign, though.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” McMillin said. “It’s much more important to close strong, and I am going to close strong.”

Magoun said he will spend the next couple of days trying to convince those who had shown an interest in voting for him, but he said that the thought of low voter turnout scared him.

“If we can get a turnout in some of the rural areas, I think those are the people who vote against the courthouse system,” Magoun said. “If we get a voter turnout in the 40 or 50 percent turnout, I think it favors me or Ronnie (McMillin).”

But Burget wasn’t afraid to encourage voter turnout on Election Day.

“I would encourage everybody to go to the polls and let their voice be known,” Burget said. “We have run a very clean, positive campaign based on records, and mine is the best.”

On the ballot are the high interest races for the seventh judicial district’s division “A” judge and the district attorney, as well as the races for local justices of the peace and constables.

The republican primary for 5th U.S. Congressional District is also on the ballot. Likewise, Public Service Commissioner and a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal are up for election.

Voting will be from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

To vote, a generally recognized picture ID such as a driver’s license or a Louisiana Special ID is required. For voters who don’t have a photo ID, they may use a utility bill, payroll check or government-issued document with their name and address in it.

Voters who do not use a picture ID will be required to sign an affidavit attesting to the truthfulness of their claims of identity.