Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Five of the six-member Opelousas Board of Aldermen were reelected Tuesday night, while the city’s mayoral race remains undecided with a runoff election scheduled to ultimately determine the matter in December.
The complete but unofficial returns released through the Louisiana Office of Secretary of State indicate that incumbent Mayor Julius Alsandor and Charlee Renaud Lear remain as candidates for mayor.
Alsandor, who is completing his first mayoral term, received 48.5 percent of the votes cast (2,323), while Lear, who also ran for mayor in 2018, finished the Tuesday election with (35.29 percent) or 1,689 votes.
In the election for aldermen, Marvin Richard, Milton Batiste III, Sherell Roberts, Charles Cummings and Chasity Davis-Warren were selected for another term by voters.
District B Alderman Floyd Ford is scheduled for a runoff against Delita Rubin Broussard, who finished first in Tuesday’s election.
Broussed received 298 votes (34.81 percent). Ford had 254 votes or 29.67 percent.
Mayor’s Race
Alsandor and Lear finished ahead of two other candidates – Donald Broussard and Matthew Leday – .
Broussard obtained 638 votes (13.33 percent). Leday received 136 votes (2.8 percent).
During separate post-election interviews, Alsandor and Lear said they are not changing the focus for their proposed programs as they prepare for the runoff.
Alsandor said he expected to finish as the top vote recipient on Tuesday, while Lear said she received more votes than she anticipated.
“This is the will of the people and now we’re in a runoff. I continue to stand by my record of progress for the City of Opelousas, continued growth and making improvements as we go forward,” Alsandor said while he was surrounded by supporters who gathered at Arpeggio’s.
Lear said voters are responding to her younger age and ideas.
“They also recognize my willingness to do the things that it will take to make improvements in the city. We need to make a push for better infrastructure in addition to improving our parks and recreation programs. There is a need to bring in new businesses to Opelousas,” Lear added.
