Election Day in St. Tammany did not provide many definite answers about what the parish’s leadership will look like going forward into 2020. Run-offs will take place Nov. 16.
Pat Brister was expecting a strong challenge from former Covington mayor Mike Cooper and she got one. They are headed to a runoff with Cooper leading in the total vote count but shy of 50%. Cooper got 48%. Brister 41%. Champagne pulled in 10%.
Nick Tranchina took a big bite out of the total vote in the race for Sheriff. First-term incumbent Randy Smith led the vote count but came up a little short of 50%. He now faces challenger Tim Lentz. Smith had 46%. Lentz got 34%. And Tranchina got 21%.
Seven local attorneys were vying for the Division F seat at the 22nd JDC. It appears that the two headed to a runoff are Vinny Lobello, who secured 26% of the vote, and Harold Bartholomew, who came in with 19%.
In the First District seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court Judge Will Crain will face Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Hans Liljeberg.
In a hotly contested Senate District 11 race Falconer led the total vote count but could not quite get to 50%. He faces McMath in the runoff after he won the vote count 47% to 40% over McMath.
Five candidates were looking to replace Falconer in the state’s 89th District: Ellis, Liuzza, Nelson, Phillips and Powell. In the runoff it will be Liuzza and Nelson.
Beth Mizell had no problem securing her 12th District seat, she got 69% of the total vote.
Larry Frieman got 82% of the vote in the 74th District.
Bob Owen defeated Michelle Blanchard 52 to 48 percent for State Representative District 76.
Mark Wright was easily reelected in District 77.
Mary DuBuisson handily won her reelection effort with 60% against 30% for Raymond.
Voters in Slidell were set to select a new City Court Judge between Chatman, Haggerty and Powell. Haggerty led the vote count with 48%. Powell got 29% and they will now be in a runoff.
