Barring a disputed result, another election season mercifully comes to an end when the polls close at 8 p.m. this evening in St. John the Baptist Parish and across the River Region.

In what can only be described as par for the course, the elections in St. John have been contentious, with candidates on each side lobbing pointed assertions of habitual lying or just plain incompetency at their opposing candidates.

And, that’s for Parish President, only the chief administrative position in St. John.

The staffers at L’OBSERVATEUR haven’t avoided the conflict, but considering the close nature of our community and familiarity of our residents, it can’t be escaped.

I once had a journalism mentor tell me a reporter can judge his or her success in regards to political reporting if their coverage angers both sides.

Well, we can check that box on numerous races.

Around our office, many in the building have long pined for today, eagerly waiting for the end of another election cycle.

Call me a glutton for punishment, but I have and always will enjoy election season in South Louisiana. This year certainly hasn’t changed things.

From St. John to the state as a whole, there has been plenty to watch.

The mean-spirited award for campaigning goes to the St. John Parish President’s race, but the most interesting local, political race has been the battle for sheriff between first-term incumbent Mike Tregre and former deputy Michael Hoover.

The dueling newspaper advertising in L’OBSERVATEUR Wednesday, coupled with their on-the-record comments on the same day’s front page paint pictures of candidates equal parts capable, intelligent and motivated.

Now, I know none of that is going to make a difference to voters who have made their minds up. But to those truly undecided voters who care deeply for the safety and future of this parish, I’m sure they are facing a tough choice today at the polls.

My biggest question about the election for sheriff came after seeing Tregre and Hoover speak at the River Region Chamber of Commerce political forum. Each spoke passionately about their belief in themselves leading this community to a safer future. Each outlined specifics concerning past accomplishments and future plans. And in old-fashion Louisiana political style, each took clever and well-placed shots at the other.

I am left to imagine what the Sheriff’s Office could be if Tregre and Hoover worked as well together in law enforcement as they do campaigning against each other.

The statewide elections have been fun to watch, as well. The first bit of campaigning that caught my attention were those ads from State Treasurer John Kennedy that has him saying, “I’m not part of the club and I’m not invited when they divide up the pork, but that’s OK. My job is to protect and represent taxpayers.”

It got to the point where I was memorizing the lines and trying to show off for my children with my Kennedy impression (they found it very boring). Folksy or not, the ads stuck with me and certainly seemed like precursors for Kennedy running for David Vitter’s U.S. Senate seat next when it comes up for reelection.

Speaking of Mr. Vitter, I bet the two-term U.S. Senator is shocked at the uphill battle he finds himself in today.

A poll conducted through Monday this week by Louisiana-based JMC Analytics found John Bel Edwards topping Vitter by 16 percentage points. Who would have seen a Democrat state senator dominating a veteran Republican with a national brand in the race for a Southern governor’s chair?

However, Edwards better work until the bitter end this evening if he wants to pull off the upset. Political veterans never go down easy. Vitter certainly trying to make a race of it with his recent campaigning on the Syrian refugee issue.

Nothing can ever be taken for granted when it comes to politics in this parish or this state. The only thing that is a given is that each season comes to an end.

Unfortunately for me, today is that day for 2015.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.