St. Mary voters show up, but with questions

Early voting for the May 16 primary election continues as scheduled in St. Mary, even though ballots cast in the Democratic primary in the 3rd Congressional District won't count, at least for now.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Callais decision April 29 struck down the Louisiana map of U.S. House districts, which was drawn to create a second House district considered winnable for a Black candidate.
Then, on April 30, Gov. Jeff Landry declared an emergency and suspended voting in Louisiana’s new closed House primaries two days before early voting was to begin.
Still, said St. Mary Registrar of Voters Terry Foulcard, about 800 parish voters had cast early votes by 3 p.m. Monday for a slate of candidates and issues other than the U.S. House race.
Others showed up without voting just to make sure the election was still on. “That’s been our dilemma …,” Foulcard said.
“It hasn’t been a challenge. But many voters were confused.”
The suspension came too late to remove the closed Democratic primary in the 3rd Congressional District from the ballot. There is no Republican primary because incumbent U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, qualified without opposition.
Three people qualified to run in the Democratic primary. They are John Day of Lake Charles, Tia LaBrun of Sulphur and Caleb “With A C” Walker of Lafayette.
Foulcard said any votes cast in the congressional primary won’t be counted.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, who represents the new Black-majority district, urged voters to continue to vote in the House primary in case a legal challenge to Landry’s suspension succeeds.
The St. Mary registrar said she’s received no word about when the House races will be back on the ballot. It’s already too late to schedule an election in July, Foulcard said.
These races are still on the ballot for early voting that continues through Saturday:
•The U.S. Senate primaries, which are unaffected by the Callais decision.
On the Republican side, incumbent Bill Cassidy is being challenged by Julia Letlow, who represents Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District; state Treasurer John Fleming; and Mark Spencer of Belle Chasse.
The Democratic Senate primary qualifiers are Nicholas “Nick” Albares and Gary Crockett, both of New Orleans, and “Jamie” Davis of Ferriday.
•In Franklin, Mayor Eugene Foulcard and most of the City Council have already been re-elected because they qualified without opposition.
The only remaining race is between incumbent Pearl Barnes Rack and Ella P. Hamilton in District C.
Already assured of re-election are Lester “Motor” Levin, the at-large council member; Jaime Robison in District A; Chuck Autin of District B; and Joseph “Joe” Garrison of District D.
The May 16 and early voting ballot include five proposed amendments to the state constitution:
•Amendment 1 would allow the Legislature to add or remove positions to the unclassified state civil service.
•Amendment 2 would grant the St. George community school system the same status as other school boards if the breakaway East Baton Rouge city decides to form its own school system.
•Amendment 3 would dissolve three state trust funds and use the money to pay down Teachers Retirement System debt while giving certified teachers a permanent $2,250 raise and other staff members a $1,125 raise.
•Amendment 4 would allow local governments to reduce or eliminate the property tax on business inventories.
•Amendment 5 would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges to 75 from 70.
May 16 was also to be the date for a special election to pick a replacement for Morgan City Councilman Eriq Blanchard, who resigned. But Thomas Hutchinson, the interim appointee to fill that District 1 seat, qualified without opposition and will serve for the remainder of Blanchard’s term.