Berwick, Patterson at center of Nov. 3 elections

Two mayoral races and full slates of municipal candidates await east St. Mary voters after the Aug. 5-7 qualifying period for the Nov. 3 primary.
Local law enforcement officials across the parish qualified without opposition, as did eight St. Mary School Board members.
Most of the east St. Mary electoral action will take place in Patterson and Berwick.
The deadline to register by mail or in person in time for the Nov. 3 election will be Oct. 5. You have until Oct. 13 to register using the GeauxVote app.
Early voting will be Oct. 20-27, excluding Sunday.
Click here for the complete list of qualifiers. Here are some of the key races and outcomes:
School Board
Eight members of the 11-member board qualified without opposition and will return to office for another four-year term.
But races developed for the seats now held by two long-time board members, Ginger Griffin and Marilyn LaSalle, both of Patterson, each with at least 20 years of service on the board. Neither qualified to run for re-election, completing the turnover that began with the 2022 election.
In Griffin’s District 5, former Patterson Council member Sandra K. Turner will run against Calyn Swords Welch, both of Patterson.
In LaSalle’s District 6, three candidates qualified: Jeffrey “Jeff” Hufstetler, Noel Pisani and Jameson “Budd” Sennette, all of Patterson.
Among incumbents, only Chad Paradee of Berwick faces an election challenge. He’ll run against Scott Babin, also of Berwick, for the District 8 seat.
Qualifying without opposition were Guienzy Brent, Franklin; Tammie Wilson, Jeanerette; Lindsey Anslem, Bayou Vista; Debra R. Jones, Franklin; Lawrence Guillory, Franklin; Alaina Black, Morgan City; Andrew V. Mancuso, Morgan City; and Rhonda Raymond Dennis, Morgan City.
Patterson
Mayor Rodney Grogan, who has held the post since 2010, is being challenged by Slade Sanders.
All five Patterson City Council incumbents qualified to run for re-election: R. Demale Bowden, Lee A. Condolle, Ray “Mr. Ray” Dewey Sr., Mamie Soudelier Perry and Miranda Weinbach. The challengers are Bealizeia “Billy” Badeaux, Keith Grimble, Allis Jennings, Patricia Lynn Jennings, Jeffrey S. Lawrence and Dawn Rentrop.
The five candidates with the most votes will be elected.
Berwick
There will be at least one new member of the Berwick Town Council. Ludness “Lud” Henry is giving up his council seat to run for mayor against Jason Romero. The winner will succeed two-term Mayor Duval Arthur.
The other four incumbent council members qualified: Colleen Nicklas Askew, Kevin P. Hebert, Raymond Price and James Richard. Also in the running are Earl Anslem Jr., Erica S. Brunson, Brandon “J.H.” Monceaux, Michael “Mike” Rodrigue and George R. Hamilton III.
The top five vote-getters will be on the council.
Law enforcement,
city court
In Patterson, Police Chief Garrett S. Grogan qualified without opposition, as did Morgan City Marshal Teddy Liner.
Paul C. Landry qualified without opposition for Morgan City judge. He will succeed Kim Stansbury, who has been city judge since 1997.
“Mike” Haik qualified with no opposition to retain the 16th Judicial District attorney post. Haik, of New Iberia, was an interim appointment after District Attorney Bo Duhé died in March 2025.