Qualifying for Oct. 14 primary begins Tuesday

Staff Report
Qualifying for the Oct. 14 primary opens Tuesday, marking the start of what looks like a long and eventful political season.
Statewide and legislative offices will appear on the ballot alongside St. Mary Parish government offices.
Local and municipal candidates and state legislative candidates qualify at the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court’s Office on the second floor of the Parish Courthouse.
All candidates for state office will qualify at the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge.
Qualifying will be 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 8-10 for state offices and 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. for parish candidates who qualify at the Clerk of Court's Office.
Qualifying candidates will be required to provide an email address and present a valid Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana identification card. For more information on qualifying, visit the secretary of state’s website at www.sos.la.gov.
At the top of the ballot will be the race to succeed two-term Gov. John Bel Edwards, a rare Democratic governor in the Deep South.
Among those vying to be governor are former congressman and current Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican; Democrat Shawn Wilson, who worked as Edwards’ secretary of transportation; and Steve Waguespack, a Republican and former director of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
One legislative race affecting St. Mary took shape early: the race to succeed three-term state Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, in District 21.
He’s term-limited after serving three four-year stints in the Senate.
His son, Robert Allain, has announced plans to run for that seat, along with former St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange and businessman Stephen Swiber.
Another term-limited official, Parish President David Hanagriff, leaves office in January. Former Franklin Mayor and state Rep. Sam Jones has announced plans to run.
Longtime Clerk of Court Cliff Dressel is stepping down after this term. Former Judge Greg Aucoin has made the rounds at local government meetings to announce his intention to run.