The deadline to qualify for the Dist. 40 state House of Representatives seat is 5 p.m. Friday, and so far eight candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. According to the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, qualifiers for the seat thus far are George Bourgeois, Allen Guillory, Bradford Jackson, Ronald Lavergne, Quincy Richard, Anna Simmons, Anthony Soileau and Ledricka Johnson Thierry.
The district comprises a north-south strip of eastern St. Landry Parish and includes the cities of Opelousas, Grand Coteau and Washington. The area went largely unrepresented in the legislative session that ended Thursday; former Dist. 40 Rep. Elbert Guillory abandoned the post following his election in April to the state Senate Dist. 24 seat.
Quincy Richard was an also-ran in the Senate Dist. 24 race, failing to make the runoff, which paired Guillory and Patricia Cravins. Thierry and Jackson both ran unsuccessfully for the Dist. 40 seat. Simmons is the former mayor of Opelousas.
According to story today in Opelousas’ Daily World , election officials anticipate a few more candidates stepping forward to qualify before the deadline. The Dist. 40 election is set for Oct. 17, with a Nov. 14 runoff if necessary.