Dewey qualifies to run for Patterson City Council

On Thursday morning, the second day of qualifying for the March 26 election, the first candidate filed to run for an open seat on the Patterson City Council.

Ray Dewey Sr. qualified to run for the unexpired term of Sandra K. Turner, who resigned in July. Tina Johnson has been serving as an interim council member.

Otherwise, the list of qualifiers for St. Mary offices remained unchanged from Wednesday as of midday Thursday:

--Tammie Moore of Jeanerette qualified Wednesday to run for the St. Mary School Board, where she has served as an interim member since October. The election is slated for March 26. She's running to complete the unexpired term of the late Sylvia Lockett.

--In Franklin, Ella Prevost Hamilton qualified Wednesday to run against District C incumbent Larry Guilbeau, who also signed up to run.

The other incumbents who qualified Wednesday are Mayor Eugene Foulcard; at-large member Lester "Motor" Levine Jr.; Jaime B. Robison in District A; Chuck B. Autin in District B; and Joseph H. Garrison in District D.

Patterson voters will also be asked to decide the fate of three proposed charter amendments. One would require the mayor to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Another would set a minimum age of 21 and establish an in-city residency requirement for the police chief as well as require Peace Officer Standards and Training certification.

The third amendment would allow the police chief to receive a pay raise in the same four-year term in which the council approves the increase.

Qualifying runs through Friday.