Staff Reporter

LAPLACE - After Saturday's primary elections, changes are in order for the St. Charles Parish Council seats. With many incumbents being term limited out of office in St. Charles, a few councilmen scrambled for new positions in government, such as At Large Councilman Clayton Faucheux's bid for parish president, and District 3 Councilman “Ram” Ramchandran's run for State Representative. Others, like District 5 Councilwoman April Black and District 2 Councilman Brian Fabre, contended for at-large seats.

Division A Black, who made it to a runoff election for the Division A At-Large seat with community volunteer Carolyn Schexnaydre, is the only current member of the council with an opportunity to continue serving. Black gathered 6,737 votes, good for 39 percent, with Schexnaydre earning 5,717 votes, for 33 percent of the vote. The third man in the race, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman, and construction management contractor “Pat” Poche, received 4,710 votes for 27 percent of the vote.

Division B

In the Division B At-Large race, current District 2 Councilman Brian Fabre was beaten out by former councilmember Terry Authement. Authement earned 9,485 votes, for 56 percent of the vote, while Fabe only managed 7,480 votes, for 44 percent.

District 1

The race for the District 1 seat went to Billy Raymond, who received 1,444 votes, for 58 percent. His opponent, Democrat Marty Muller, received 1,048 votes, for 42 percent of the vote.

District 2

In District 2, 25-year-old college student Kennilyn Schmill will battle in a runoff with businessman Shelley Tastet. Tastet garnered 1,083 votes, for 39 percent, while Schmill received 899 votes, for 33 percent. James “J.J.” Breaux, who also competed for the seat, managed 765 votes, for 28 percent.

District 3

The District 3 race was won by Republican Wendy Benedetto, who picked up 1,686 votes for 56 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Vincent Bruno, received 835 votes for 43 percent.

District 4

The incumbent is out in District 4, with Derryl Walls conceding his seat to newcomer Paul Hogan. Hogan earned 1,105 votes, for 57 percent, while Walls only managed 835 votes, for 43 percent.

District 5

Democrat “Larry” Cochran takes the District 5 council seat vacated by term-limited April Black. Cochran, who collected 1,372 votes, for 65 percent, beat out Richard L. “Dick” Palmer, who earned 732 votes, for 35 percent.

District 6

The battle for Richard Duhe's vacated District 6 council seat will go into a runoff between mortgage broker Marcus Lambert, who acquired 906 votes for 38 percent, and businessman Keith L'Hoste, who brought in 755 votes, for 32 percent of the vote. The third man in the race, real estate investor Keith J. Schecxnayder, only picked up 720 votes, for 30 percent.

District 7

The four-man race for District 7 was dwindled to two, as Republican Dennis Nuss will face off against 21-year-old Tulane student Adam Eitmann for the opportunity to succeed Barry Minnich, who was left out because of term limits. Eitmann collected 918 votes, for 37 percent, while Nuss garnered 772 votes for 31 percents. The two beat out Northrup-Grunmman employee “Sam” Dantin, Jr., who received 498 votes, for 20 percent, and Bryan Bedi, who only mustered 274 votes, for 11 percent.