Bellard’s opponent disqualified

St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard is winning re-election after his opponent, Richard Lewis, was disqualified Friday morning in a hearing in the 27th Judicial Court District. Bellard had challenged Lewis’ candidacy for parish president citing a failure to pay state income taxes in 2021 and 2022, but stating he had done so on a qualification form. “The judge ruled to disqualify him bec…