By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – This weekend will bring elections for all three of the River Parishes.
On Saturday, April 6,  St. John the Baptist Parish residents will vote on a one-fourth percent tax levy proposed by the St. John Sheriff’s Department. The levy will affect the sale, use, lease, rental and consumption of tangible personal property in the district and be used to pay the costs and expenses of operating the sheriff’s office, including salaries and benefits.
In St. James Parish, the only race concerns a $1.5 million dollar bond issue in the municipality of Gramercy. The proposed bond will be used for the construction of and improvements to Gramercy’s water treatment plant and distribution system. The bonds will carry an interest rate not to exceed 6 percent a year.
In St. Charles Parish, residents will begin voting to fill the District 2 St. Charles Parish Council seat. Contenders for the position are Republican Mary Keller Cluelee, Democrat Vanessa Johnson and Republican William “Billy” Woodruff.
The principal office of the registrar of voters in each parish will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. the day of the election, but election day voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information about polling locations for each parish may be obtained by visiting the Louisiana Secretary of State website and clicking the “Election Day Voting” tab.
Voters will be asked to identify themselves with either photo identification or by signature on a voter affidavit. Voters who have no picture ID may bring a utility bill, payroll check or government document that includes their name and address.
More information is available on the Louisiana Secretary of State website at www.sos.la.gov.