Early voting is underway

Staff Report
Does it seem as though you just voted? Maybe, but it’s time to go back to the polls.
Early voting for the Dec. 8 general election is underway. Any registered voter who normally votes in St. Mary can vote at either of two locations: the parish courthouse in Franklin or the registrar of voters branch office at 301 Third St. in Morgan City.
Early voting runs through Dec. 1, except for Sunday. Bring a photo ID to the polls.
In addition to runoffs resulting from the Nov. 6 primary, St. Mary voters will decide the fate of a proposed charter amendment setting the salaries of parish council members at $800 per month. The exception would be members elected at large, who would get a salary of $1,200 per month.
Also, voters in the Sorrell and Four Corners areas will decide whether to renew a 12.82-mill property tax for Fire Protection District 11.
For estimate purposes, the tax costs the owner of a $100,000 home eligible for the homestead exemption $32.05 per year. The owner of a $200,000 home eligible for the homestead exemption pays $160.25 per year.
All the voters in the parish will settle races for two offices.
Blaise Smith and interim incumbent Scott Anslum are running to replace Sheriff Mark Hebert, who resigned earlier this year due to an illness in his family.
Anslum won 5,982 votes, or 34 percent, in the primary. Smith got 4,046 votes or 23 percent, to edge Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi for the second runoff spot.
Another runoff will decide another office left vacant by an incumbent who resigned.
In the runoff for coroner, Dr. Eric Melancon is running against Dr. Lianter Albert, who has held the office since the resignation of longtime Coroner Dr. Chip Metz earlier this year.
Melancon was the top vote-getter in the primary with 6,805 votes, or 41 percent. Albert got 5,878 votes, or 36 percent, to beat Dr. Natchez “Trey” Morice for the second place in the runoff.
One statewide office remains to be decided. Interim incumbent Kyle Ardoin, a Republican, and Democrat “Gwen” Collins-Greenup are running to replace Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who was forced to resign in a sexual harassment scandal.
Ardoin led a nine-candidate field with 298,657 primary votes, or 20 percent, edging Collins-Greenup, who had 289,097 votes.
The primary settled St. Mary Parish School Board races and municipal elections in Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson and Baldwin and renewed property taxes for Gravity Drainage District No. 2 and Fire Protection District No. 3 in the Amelia area.