By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Tuesday’s election held few surprises for voters in the River Parishes.

In perhaps the day’s most bitter race, incumbent Sen. David Vitter defeated Democratic challenger Charlie Melancon as well as 10 other candidates. Vitter received 57 percent of the vote statewide compared to Melancon’s 38 percent.

In the other Congressional race voted on by River Parishes voters, Republican Jeff Landry defeated Democrat Ravi Sangisetty for the Third Congressional District seat vacated by Melancon. That contest was decided by an even wider margin, with Landry receiving 64 percent of the vote.

The race for lieutenant governor also ultimately went to a Republican, current Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. Dardenne defeated Democrat Caroline Fayard for the office 57 percent to 43 percent.

Ten constitutional amendments were also on the ballot Tuesday. Eight of those passed. The two that voters rejected, amendments four and seven, dealt with the authority to raise property tax millages without voter approval and the rights of bidders at property tax sales, respectively.

Although voters in St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes generally fell in line with the rest of the state, voters in St. James Parish had a notable difference of opinion.

St. James voters chose Fayard over Dardenne by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. Likewise, in the Senate race, Melancon received 59 percent of the vote in St. James. Finally, 55 percent of voters in St. James cast ballots for Sangisetty in the Third District Congressional race.