By Monique Roth

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Special elections are being held today in both St. James and St. Charles parishes.

St. James Parish will hold an election addressing three parish propositions. Voters will decide whether to renew two existing millages and establish one new property tax.

The new parishwide 1.25 mills property tax proposed would collect an estimated $611,000 annually for the St. James Parish Nutrition Kitchen. The tax is being proposed for 10 years, and the kitchen would support the Department of Human Resources service programs and activities, including but not limited to programs for the elderly, Meals on Wheels, Head Start, summer youth literacy programs and St. James Parish ARC activities. Currently, various vendors supply food for the agencies.

The two tax renewals include a parishwide 3.92 mills for 10 years for the operation and maintenance of the parish’s Human Resources Department and a 1 mill tax for street lighting that would be levied throughout the parish, with the exception of Lutcher and Gramercy.

In St. Charles Parish, voters will choose between three candidates in an election to fill the Councilman At-Large Division B spot on the St. Charles Parish Council. The term runs through 2015.

Luling resident and Republican Julia Fisher-Perrier, the current District 7 councilwoman, is a candidate. If Fisher-Perrier were successful in her bid, the Parish Council would then have to call another special election to fill the District 7 seat. That term runs through 2015 as well.

Stanley Hebert of Des Allemands, who listed no party affiliation, is the second candidate. Hebert said his knowledge in the construction and maintenance industry would help him serve the parish and he would seek to redirect existing revenue and devote future revenue from property taxes to fund levee projects.

The third candidate is Democrat Jarvis Lewis. A former deputy St. Charles Parish assessor, Lewis said if elected he plans to fight for adequate levee protection on the west bank.

Polls will be open today in both St. James and St. Charles Parishes from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.