By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — Candidates lined up this week to qualify for school board seats across the River Region, for the District 7 St. John the Baptist Council position, and for municipal races in Gramercy and Lutcher.

The primary election is Sept. 30, with the runoff election on Nov. 7.

The District 7 St. John Council open seat is now held by appointee Jimmy Hymel, after the election of Steve Lee to the at-large position held by Joel McTopy prior to his death. McTopy’s chair had been held by his wife, Sherry, until the election had been held last spring.

In other shakeups, long-time St. Charles Parish School Board Member Alfred Green, 78, announced his plan to retire at the completion of his current term, and appointed Lutcher Chief of Police Earl White, who had previously said he would not seek election to the position, filed for the race on Thursday. He was appointed to fill the position after the arrest and conviction of Corey Pittman on drug trafficking charges.

Also, in St. James Parish, Gramercy and Lutcher voters will each hold municipal elections, for mayor, chief of police and Board of Aldermen.

Following are candidates who have qualified as of press time Friday morning.

ST. JOHN DISTRICT 7 COUNCIL

Duaine D, Duffy, 145 River Oaks Drive, LaPlace, Republican.

Cheryl Millet, 1925 Ridgefield, LaPlace, Democrat.

ST. JOHN PARISH

SCHOOL BOARD

District 1

Russell Jack Jr., 492 Central Ave., Edgard, Democrat.

District 2

Elexia O. Henderson, 257 Chestnut St., Mt. Airy, Democrat

District 3

Gerald J. Keller, 285 NW Fourth St., Reserve, Democrat.

District 4

Patrick H. Sanders, 137 E. 31st St., Reserve, Democrat.

District 5

Dowie Gendron, 775 W.

Fifth St., LaPlace, other party.

District 6

Keith A. Jones, 383 Capt. George Bourgeois St., LaPlace, Democrat.

District 7

Phillip Johnson, 1117 Cinclair Loop, LaPlace, Democrat.

District 8

Helen H. Banquer, 2180 Marion Drive, LaPlace, no party.

Russell E. &#8220Russ” Wise, 2131 Marion Drive, LaPlace, no party.

District 9

Lowell J. Bacas, 517 Parlange Loop, LaPlace, Republican.

District 10

Matthew Ory, 640 S. Golfview Drive, LaPlace, Democrat.

District 11

Clarence G. Triche, 1614 Main St., LaPlace, Democrat.

ST. CHARLES PARISH

SCHOOL BOARD

District 1

Ellis Alexander, 256 Lincoln St., Hahnville, no party.

Desmond J. Hilaire, 324 Ash St., Hahnville, Democrat.

District 2

Mary Bergeron, 105 Laurel Court, Luling, Republican.

District 3

Cindy Brasher, 580 S. Destrehan Drive, Destrehan, Republican.

Dennis Naquin, 6 Stanton Hall Drive, Destrehan, Republican.

District 4

Clarence &#8220Sonny” Savoie, 128 Early St., Paradis, Democrat.

District 5

John L. Smith, 11798 River Road, St. Rose, Democrat

District 6

Jay Robichaux, 200 Mistletoe Drive, Norco, no party.

District 7

Steve Crovetto, 503 Diane Drive, Luling, Democrat.

District 8

Hank Shepard, 39 Belle Helene Drive, Destrehan, Republican.

ST. JAMES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

District 1

Diana B. Cantillo, 165 N. Pine Ave., Gramercy, Democrat.

District 2

Kenneth J. Foret, 1176 Desoto Drive, Lutcher, Democrat.

District 3

Carol C. Lambert, 3564 Geismar St., Paulina, Democrat.

District 4

George Nassar Jr., 5390 Canatella St., Convent, Democrat.

District 5

Patricia &#8220Ducy” Heary Schexnayder, 7176 Communi St., St. James, Democrat.

Willis A. Octave, 8154 Pierre St., St. James, Democrat.

District 6

Charles T. &#8220Charlie” Nailor, Vacherie, Democrat.

District 7

Richard &#8220Ricky” Reulet Jr., 231 Reulet Road, Vacherie, Democrat.

LUTCHER BOARD

OF ALDERMEN

District 1, Division A

Gaylon Jackson, 2585 Lionel Washington St., Democrat.

Floyd A. Marshall Sr., Democrat.

District 1, Division B

Laverne Gordon, Democrat

District 2, Division A

Patrick P. St. Pierre, 1763 Cabanose Ave., Democrat.

District 2, Division B

Jason P. Amato, 1168 Marquette Drive, Democrat.

At-Large Seat One

Otis J. Schexnayder, 1787 Bay Tree St., Democrat.

LUTCHER CHIEF

OF POLICE

Jerome Franklin, 2317 N. Courseault St., Democrat.

Earl A. White, 2188 S. Exchange Alley, Democrat.

LUTCHER MAYOR

Septime &#8220Tim” Bourgeois, Democrat.

Troas A. Poche, 1123 Regina St., Democrat.

Rowdy Kennard Scott, 1596 Cabanose Ave., Democrat.

GRAMERCY BOARD

OF ALDERMEN

District 1

Betty Cooper Coleman, 281 S. Fir Ave., Democrat.

District 2

John Doucet, 4423 N. Montz, Ave., Democrat.

Harriet D. Melancon, 215 N. Ezidore Ave., Democrat.

District 3

At-Large (two to be elected)

&#8220Kat’ Bocz, 524 N. Ezidore, Democrat.

Rubenstein Mitchell Clark, Democrat.

Claude &#8220Clyde” Wiggins, 705 N. Montz Ave., Democrat.

GRAMERCY CHIEF

OF POLICE

David P. Dufresne, 219 N. Magnolia Ave., Democrat.

David E. Detillier, 154 N. Colonial Ave., Democrat.

GRAMERCY MAYOR

Herman Bourgeois, Democrat.

Terry J. Borne, Democrat.