By LEONARD GRAY-Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – With the primary election behind, the eyes of voters are focusing on the Nov. 15 runoff elections. The top two races which are most contentious are considered to be the sheriff’s race in St. John the Baptist Parish and the parish president’s race in St. Charles Parish.

Oct. 15 is the last day for voter registration and absentee balloting is scheduled Nov. 3-7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Nov. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

In St. John Parish, incumbent Sheriff Wayne L. Jones came in with 7,900 votes, or 49.72 votes, while Shannon Penn came in with 6,149 votes, or 38.70 percent, and Wilton “Boobie” Bailey came in with 1,839 votes, or 11.57 percent. This placed Jones and Penn in the runoff.

Jones said he feels confident and is kicking his campaign “into high gear” to capture the votes he would need to win.

“I’m very proud of my department. If we weren’t doing a good job, we’d have a skyrocketing crime rate, but we live in a safe and clean community.”

He added, “I know exactly what I need to do in all aspects of the campaign.”

Penn said he was “very pleased” with the first primary outcome which showed 51 percent of the voters wanted change. He acknowledged he has “a hard road to go” but that he started in February “with a vision and a mission.”

Penn also said he would step up advertising efforts and urged people to “please, please come out to vote.”

Elsewhere in the St. John Parish elections, incumbent Parish President Nickie Monica came in with 7,698 votes, or 49.43 percent, while Jobe Boucvalt came in with 4,266 votes, or 27.40 percent, and Perry Bailey came in with 3,608 votes, or 23.17 percent. This placed Monica and Boucvalt in the runoff.

The St. John Assessor’s race has Whitney Joseph coming in with 5,523 votes, or 35.03 percent, into a runoff with Duaine Duffy, who came in with 3,395 votes, or 21.53 percent.

Parish Council runoffs include Lester Rainey Jr. and Haston Lewis in District One, Allen St. Pierre and Mark Entremont in District Two. Mel Powell and Jaclyn Hotard in District Four and Emile Bergeron and Ronnie Smith in District Six.

Local winners include Clerk of Court Eliana Defrancesch, Councilman at Large Division A Cleveland Farlough, Councilman at Large Division B Joel McTopy, District Four Councilman Sean Roussel, District Seven Councilman Steve Lee and District 10 School Board Member Matt Ory.

St. John School Board runoffs are between Russell Jack Jr. and Robert Carl Sylvain in District One, Daniel Becnel Jr. and Dowie Gendron in District Five, Phillip Johnson and Bertis Tamplain in District Seven and Russ Wise and Chris Ory in District Eight. Elexis Henderson was elected in District Two.

In St. Charles Parish, incumbent Parish President Albert Laque came in with 7,813 votes, or 45.07 percent, while Dee Abadie came in with 5,256 votes, or 30.32 percent, and Chris Tregre came in with 4,267 votes, or 24.61 percent. This placed Abadie and Laque in the runoff.

Laque commented, “The low voter turnout wasn’t a plus for me, but everything went according to Hoyle.”

He pledged to continue his “positive campaigning as in the first primary.”

Abadie commented, “I hoped to be a little higher, percentage-wise, but it shows the majority of the people want a change.”

She added her biggest obstacle is making sure the voters do not get apathetic.

Parish Council runoffs include G. “Ram” Ramchandran and Richard LeSage in District Three, Derryl Wayne Walls and Danny Somme in District Four and April Black and Freddie “Jamie” Coleman in District Five.

Other local winners include Sheriff Greg C. Champagne, Assessor Clyde “Rock” Gisclair, Councilman at Large Division A Lance Marino, Councilman at Large Division B Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux, District One Councilman Desmond Hilaire, District Two Councilman Brian Fabre, District Six Councilman Richard “Dickie” Duhe and District Seven Justice of the Peace Irv Sanchez.

In St. James Parish, only the Parish Council District Five race remains to be settled. In that race, incumbent James Mitchell is in a runoff with opponent Charles “I-Spy” Ketchens. Mitchell picked up 487 votes or 34.98 percent and Ketchens picked up 417 votes for 29.95 percent.

First-primary winners included Sheriff Willy J. Martin Jr., Assessor Glenn Waguespack, Councilman District One Elwyn Bocz, Councilman District Two Timothy P. “Timmy” Roussel, Councilman District Three Wilson F. Malbrough Jr., Councilman District Four Ralph A. Patin Jr.,