By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Incumbent St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, who was seeking her first full term in office after winning a special election, avoided a runoff and will remain at her post, according to unofficial election results.

Robottom was re-elected with 53 percent of the vote, 7,840 total, beating out former Parish President and state Rep. Nickie Monica, who received 5,608 votes, or 38 percent. Parish Councilman Ronnie Smith, the third candidate, received 1,253 votes, or about 9 percent.

Surrounded by supporters at her victory party, Robottom said she and her staff “worked incredibly hard” over the past 16 months of her abbreviated term and added she is looking forward to a full four years of running the parish.

“I want the residents of the parish to know that we will keep this momentum going,” Robottom said. “We got a lot done in a short period, and I am pleased that the residents decided to give me another opportunity to do more.”

Meanwhile, Monica expressed disappointment over the outcome but said he is looking forward to spending some more time with family.

“The first thing I plan to do is break out my deer hunting licenses in the morning,” Monica said. “Life starts tomorrow. I have a lot of catching up to do with my family and a lot of catching up on making a living.”

Robottom, who served as Monica’s chief administrative officer, said the race was unique for her in that she was running against her former boss, but both she and Monica agreed the campaign remained positive.

“There were no attacks,” Robottom said. “It was very smooth all around.”