ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 21, 2000

RESERVE – The St. John Parish School Board officially called for a specialelection to fill the District 8 seat being vacated by board president Richard DeLong on July 1.

At a special meeting Monday night the board unanimously voted to hold the primary election Oct. 7, 2000, and the general election Nov. 7, 2000.The qualifying period for the election is from Aug. 16-18.There was no debate or discussion on the resolution. Seven of the 11members were present at the meeting. Patrick Sanders, Matthew Ory, JohnCrose and Charles Watkins were absent.

DeLong announced last week he was retiring from his post as representative of District 8 on the school board due to health reasons.

DeLong still has two years left on his term, and that is why a special election is being held.

Between July 1 and the election DeLong will appoint someone to take his place on the board. DeLong said he will nominate LaRue Speights, a retiredSt. John Parish educator, to fill the post until the election in October.According to law, Speights cannot run for the District 8 seat.

It is believed the rest of the school board will support DeLong’s nomination of Speights.

DeLong has been on the school board for nine and a half years, but due to heart and respiratory problems he feels it is time to call it quits. He wasfirst elected to the board in 1990 and re-elected in 1994 and 1998.

He plans to retire to his home state of Illinois so he can be close to family members. He also plans to open a clock repair shop and “just take it easy.”

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