Photograph: St. Landry Registrar of Voters Candidates Byron Stelly and Lauren Jones answer questions from Parish Council members Tuesday night. (Photographs by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Two candidates seeking to become the new St. Landry Parish Registrar of Voters presented their qualifications and were questioned extensively by parish council members during a special meeting Tuesday night.
St. Mary Parish Registrar of Voters Byron Stelly and St. Landry Parish deputy registrar Lauren Jones scheduled to be considered for appointment by the Parish Council Wednesday night, offered different sets of qualities as they explained how they would handle their duties if selected as registrar.
Jones, who has worked in the St. Landry Registrar’s Office for 18 years — eight of them as deputy assistant – said that her knowledge of the parish and communication skills with the public and relationships with her current employees are her most advantageous assets for handling the daily issues affecting the Registrar of Voters Office.
Stelly emphasized that his previous knowledge of handling of statewide and parish-level elections as well as his academic resume, which includes a graduate degree from Auburn, would bring a heightened level of excellence to the Registrar’s Office.
During her opening statement, Jones said that she has acquired “hands-on” knowledge, learning the essentials of the Registrar’s Office from former Registrar of Voters John Moreau.
“What I have learned about being the registrar didn’t happen overnight. My goal is to continue to run the Office of Registrar with efficiency and transparency,” Jones told council members.
Stelly, who has been the St. Mary Parish registrar since October of last year, said that his graduate degree has enabled him to become a certified registrar, which has made him better prepared to handle elections, reapportionment issues and the duties of registrar.
Council members Jerry Red, Jr., Nancy Carriere, Mildred Thierry and Jimmie Edwards complained that they had not received any advance contact from Stelly about the intention of Stelly to become the registrar.
Stelly however looked over his notes and told all four council members that he has documentation which shows that each of them had received e-mails addressed to them in mid-June.
Both Jones and Stelly said they will consider expanding parish locations for early voting.
Stelly added that he is also open to maintaining Jones as his chief deputy and current employees of the Registrar’s Office if he is chosen as registrar. Jones indicated that she could consider working under Stelly if Stelly is confirmed as registrar.
Jones said that she and the current employees working in the Registrar’s Office have been attending workshops and seminars in order to gain improvement.
“Everyone in the office works together. We attend all the training sessions and we are always learning new things together,” Jones added.
Stelly, who like Jones, grew up in St. Landry, said that his course work in elections and duties of registrar’s duties have also prepared him to develop leadership abilities essential for becoming the parish registrar.
Although he has worked as registrar in St. Mary, Stelly said he has helped various elections held previously in St. Landry.
Jones, in her closing remarks, asked the Council to provide her with an opportunity to continue working in the Registrar’s Office in order to “resolve any issues.”
Stelly told the Council that he is “confident” that he has the necessary qualifications needed to become the parish registrar along with plans to work with the current office staff to crea
