Mayor-president race on today’s ballot

• By STEVEN WARD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 4, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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East Baton Rouge Parish residents will go to the polls today to vote in a primary election that includes mayor-president, the 12 Metro Council members, district attorney and several judges.

The polls open 6 a.m. and close 8 p.m.

Incumbent Mayor-President Kip Holden, a Democrat, has three challengers for his seat, Republicans Wayne Carter and Dan Kyle, and Democrat Ron Johnson.

Holden, the parish’s first black mayor-president, is seeking a second term.

Johnson, an attorney, is a former East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member. Kyle is a former state legislative auditor and Carter is the parish’s District 1 Metro Council member.

Only four of the 12 current Metro Council members are running for re-election: District 2 Councilman Ulysses “Bones” Addison, District 6 Councilwoman Martha Jane Tassin, District 7 Councilman Byron Sharper and District 8 Councilman Mike Walker.

Republican Dan Claitor and Democrat Hillar Moore III are vying to replace 19th Judicial District Attorney Doug Moreau, who chose not to run again.

The 19th Judicial District encompasses all of East Baton Rouge Parish.

East Baton Rouge Parish is not the only area parish that will have a new district attorney at the start of next year.

Voters in Ascension, St. James, and Assumption will vote today for a new district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District. The winner will take the office of longtime District Attorney Tony Falterman.

All Democrats, Ricky Babin, Charles Long, Pegram Mire and former state Sen. Louis Lambert are battling for the district attorney’s post in the 23rd Judicial District.

Local voters will cast their choice today for associate justice of the 5th district of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Voters will choose between incumbent judge Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Jeff D. Hughes.