Jeremy Alford and David Jacobs: The races on October ballots

What follows is a sampling of potential races to watch from the Oct. 11 ballot. While the marquee elections in Orleans Parish for mayor and sheriff will hog the proverbial limelight, these are some of the contests you’ll find elsewhere. (We promise to get back to Orleans in a future column!) Qualifying opens on July 9.
•Slidell Mayor: Greg Cromer stepped down from leading St. Tammany’s biggest city to take a job with Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration. In a quirk of the city’s charter, Bill Borchert, the at-large City Council member who got the most votes in the most recent election, became the interim mayor. Borchert will compete for the full term, and Police Chief Randy Fandal also has announced a run. 
•19th Judicial District (East Baton Rouge Parish): Wilson Fields, chief judge of 19th JDC, was unopposed in his bid to fill the seat of longtime appellate judge John Michael Guidry on the First Circuit Court of Appeal. Candidates said to be eying the race include Lyn Legier, who sought a seat on the court in 2023; Vicky Jones, who ran for the 23rd JDC two years ago; and Vernon Thomas, a first-time candidate. 
•17th Judicial District (Lafourche Parish): Judge F. Hugh “Buddy” Larose is retiring. Shaun-Philip George, chief of violent crimes for the Lafourche Parish district attorney, has the support of his boss Kristine Russell and Sheriff Craig Webre to replace Larose, so he will be a formidable opponent if anyone else qualifies.  
•9th Judicial District (Rapides Parish): Judge Patricia Koch is retiring after 20 years on the bench. She is reportedly only the second female judge in the court’s history. 
•Franklin Parish Sheriff: The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association tapped four-term Sheriff Kevin Cobb to be their new executive director. The field to replace him may include Michael Wilson, current chief investigator; Bryan Linder, retired patrol supervisor; and Steve Pylant, the former sheriff and state representative.
• District Attorney (16th JDC): Bo Duhé, who had been the DA for Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes since 2015, died in March. His interim replacement, Morris Michael Haik III, plans to run for the office. 
•Jean Lafitte Mayor: Former officeholder Tim Kerner Jr. won a bruising race for a spot on the Jefferson Parish Council. Interim Mayor Yvette Crain did not return a phone call asking if she planned to run for a full term, and Kerner could not be reached to ask if he planned to back anyone. 
•Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court: Current Clerk of Court Theresa Robichaux is retiring, and Chief Deputy Jodie Burton will seek to replace her. 
•West Carroll Coroner: Lewis Carter has retired, and interim replacement Melissa Stewart plans to run for the job. 
•St. Helena Assessor: Wesley Blades, who has held the job since 1997, is retiring. The current chief deputy is not interested in following in his footsteps.
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