Bill Fontenot won a third term as St. Landry Parish President in Saturday’s election
Fontenot won 53% of the 29,052 votes cast to defeat a challenge by District 6 Parish Council member Ken Marks.
Fontenot becomes the first Parish President to win a third term in the office created since St. Landry Parish adopted a home rule charter government.
In the Oct. 12 primary election, Fontenot received 30% of the vote and Marks had 32% of the vote. Don Menard, who served two terms as parish president, received 21% of the vote. Tanisha Bellard Wiltz received 17% of the vote.
Fontenot. Menard and Wiltz ran as Democrats. Marks ran as an independent.
Fontenot managed to win voter support for a 2% sales tax in rural St. Landry Parish to fund a Smooth Ride Home Program.
Marks stressed his experienced at Baker Hughes where he retired after 37 years. He has a degree in petroleum engineering.
Menard was the first parish president under the home rule charter government.
In the race to fill Mark’s District 6 seat Gill Savoy won with 55% of 2,044 votes cast to defeat Warren “Biscuit” Basco.
The District 6 race was the only Parish Council election on Saturday.
The remainder of Parish Council includes: Jerry Red, District 1; Nancy Carriere, District 2; Easton Shelvin, District 3; Mildred Thierry, District 4; Harold Taylor, District 5; Alvin Stelly, District 7; Vivian Olivier, District 8; Wayne Ardoin, District 9; Dexter Brown, District 10; Timmy Lejeune, District 11; Jimmie Edwards, District 12; and Coby Clavier, District 13.