All of the 9th Judicial District Court judges seeking re-election were returned to office unopposed at the end of qualifying on Friday, and a current prosecutor soon will join them on the bench as Judge Greg Beard also was elected unopposed to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal.
Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Chris Maxwell ran for Beard's seat and drew no opposition. He released a statement on Friday afternoon, calling the six-week campaign "a true high point in my life.
"I have connected with some amazing people along this journey who believed in me and in my message — the people of Rapides Parish deserve a judge who is knowledgeable, fair and respectful towards the people. This message has resonated far and wide, and I am both honored and humbled to announce that as of today, I have been elected your judge without opposition."
Maxwell said he didn't take the coming duty lightly, "and I will work each day to be a public servant that the people of Rapides Parish can depend on and be proud of."
Maxwell and the judges weren't the only candidates who didn't face any opposition as qualifying for the Nov. 3 elections closed. Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell also drew no challengers, along with Alexandria City Judge Richard Starling and Pineville City Judge Gary K. Hays.
But there are plenty of other races that voters will decide in the fall. One of the most watched is the Alexandria mayoral race. Mayor Jacques Roy has two challengers, current District 1 Councilman Malcolm Larvadain and businessman Lorenzo Davis Sr.
The Rapides Parish School Board will be comprised of almost all new members since five of the nine members are term limited and can't run again. Members Mark Dryden, the current board president representing District C, and Wally Fall, representing District G, had no opposition and will retain their seats.
Three new members were elected without opposition, including Darrell Ingram in District A, James Rachal in District B and Kelli Carruth-Welch in District I.
All results are unofficial until qualifying officially closes. The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office stated some candidates might not be in the database by Friday at 4:30 p.m. because of the high number of races on ballots.
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If you're not registered to vote in November, the deadline to register so you can vote in person, by mail or at an Office of Motor Vehicles office is Oct. 5. The deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Oct. 13.
Early voting will be held from Oct. 20-27 — but not on Sunday, Oct. 25 — from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting locations in Rapides Parish have been the registrar of voters office at the Rapides Parish Courthouse in downtown Alexandria, 701 Murray St., and at Kees Park, 2450 La. Highway 28 East in Pineville.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot through the online Voter Portal or in writing through your registrar's office is Oct. 30 by 4:30 p.m., if you aren't a military member or overseas voter.
An absentee ballot must be received by the registrar's office by Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m., other than military members or overseas voters.
And, on Election Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Find the Rapides races and those who qualified or who were elected without opposition below, as listed on the secretary's website.
Mary Lauve Doggett, Republican
Richard Starling Jr., no party
Kelli Carruth-Welch, Republican
Ashley Nicole Baptiste, Democrat
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Felter, Democrat
Suzanne Duncan-Furby, Republican
Charlotte Williams-Smith, Republican
Fidelia Jackson-Sutherland, Democrat
Lucretia "Bonnie" McCoy, Democrat
Carolyn White-Pittman, Democrat
Ronald Lamont Goudeau, no party
Lisa Melder Willis, Republican
Albert "Butch" Butler, Democrat
Ashton Washington Jr., no party
Herman "Greg" Williams, Democrat
David C. Butler II, Republican
Lisa Gunter Aymond, Republican
Jimmie S. Cranford, Republican
Carrie W. Harrington, no party
Elizabeth Ann Jeter, Republican
Garland "Bear" Carroll, no party
Danita Goree Davis, Republican
Marsha S. Marcantel, Republican
Michael J. Byrnes Jr., Republican
Donald Kendrick Jr., Republican
Jerry Woodham Gordy, Republican
Randell "Randy" Bordelon, Republican
Michael D. Vallery, Republican
Russell "Rusty" Miller, Republican
William "Billy" DeKeyzer, Republican
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Rapides judges, district attorney return to office with no opposition