VIDALIA — Qualifying for Concordia Parish’s March 5 municipal elections began Wednesday.

On the ballot will be races in Vidalia, Ferriday and Clayton, as well as for a justice of the peace seat and political party representatives.

Qualifying will continue today and Friday in the Concordia Parish Clerk of Court’s office.

In Vidalia, Mayor Hyram Copeland qualified for re-election as a Democrat.

Those who qualified for aldermen in Vidalia include:

In District 1, Tron McCoy, Democrat

In District 2, Robert Lee Gardner Jr. and Vernon Stevens, Democrat, and Raymond Murray, Republican.

In District 3, in which three at-large aldermen will be elected, Jon D. Betts and Tommy Probst qualified as Republicans, while Ricky Knapp and Mo Saunders qualified with no party affiliation.

For the Vidalia police chief race, Arthur Lewis qualified as a Democrat while Joey Merrill qualified with no party affiliation.

In Ferriday, Mayor Gene Allen and Justin Conner both qualified for the mayor’s race.

For the Ferriday board of aldermen, incumbent District C Alderwoman Sandra Gail Pryor, District D. Alderman Johnnie Brown and District E Alderwoman Gloria Lloyd all qualified without challengers.

District B Alderman Elijah “Steppers” Banks will face a challenge from Chryl Smith Lee. Both qualified as Democrats.

In Clayton, Mayor Rydell Turner and Josephine Taylor Washington both qualified as Democrats for the mayor’s race.

For Clayton Police Chief, Bobby L. Madison Sr. and Clarence “PaPa” Skipper both qualified as Democrats.

Clayton elects five aldermen, and Wednesday Floyd Lavon Barber, Donna G. Keith and Shannon Burns Madison qualified as candidates.

In the race for Justice of the Peace District 3, Russell Wagoner Sr. qualified as a Republican.

Susan Rabb of Vidalia qualified for the Republican Parish Executive Committee District 3, Place B, and the Republican State Central Committee Senate District 32, Division F.