School Board race develops for March 25 election

A race has developed for a St. Mary Parish School Board seat on the March 25 ballot.

Mark R. Romero of Oaklawn Street in Franklin qualified during the Wednesday-Friday qualifying period to run against interim member Debra R. Jones of Trainor Street, also in Franklin.

The race is for the District 4 board seat in west St. Mary.

Jones was appointed to be an interim board member after Pearl Rack of Franklin resigned and withdrew from the 2022 re-election race after qualifying.

Jones was reappointed as an interim member earlier this month.

Also on the March 25 ballot is a proposed amendment to the St. Mary Parish Home Rule Charter.

The amendment would set the parish president’s salary at the average of the salaries for the mayors of the parish’s five municipalities, currently almost $50,000.

The current salary is set by charter at $12,000.

The deadline to register in person to vote for the March 25 election is Feb. 22, or March 4 for registrations via the GeauxVote.com app or website.

Early voting will be March 11-18, excluding Sunday.