By JESSICA DAIGLE

and LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – The run-off election for the St. Charles Parish Coroner will be held today.

Vying for the spot is Dr. Monica Vial Benson, daughter of longtime coroner Dr. David “Jerry” Vial. Benson specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and Dr. Brian Brogle, who practices in both Luling and Laplace, specializes in adult and pediatric urology.

However, interim parish coroner, Dr. Earl Alleman Sr., 85, died Wednesday. Benson, serving as assistant coroner for the parish, is now the new interim corner.

Alleman, a native of McCall, graduated from Catholic High School and LSU Medical School.

He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II and following the war, further studied medicine at the Sorbonne in Paris.

He operated a family practice in Norco for 55 years, and served as parish coroner from 1968 to 1976, when he was succeeded by Dr. David Vial, staying on as assistant coroner.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Cambre Alleman, eight children and 20 grandchildren.

He was also active with the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis and Lions Club.

St. Charles Parish Administrative Officer Timothy Vial observed that before the opening of the Hale Boggs Bridge, Vial and

Alleman divided the coroner duties, east bank and west bank.

“Most people considered him the ‘east bank coroner,'” Timothy Vial said of Alleman.

When Vial died in October 2004, Alleman was appointed to serve, pending the outcome of the election to fill the unexpired term, which ends in 2007.

Alleman was provided a military funeral yesterday at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Norco. Interment was at St. Charles Borromeo Mausoleum in Destrehan.

With Alleman’s death, whoever wins today’s election will be sworn in as soon as the results are made official by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.

In the primary election, Benson recieved 41 percent of the votes, while Brogle recieved 37 percent.