VIDALIA — Candidates battling for Concordia Parish votes in Saturday’s Louisiana primary election got an opportunity to do some last-minute campaigning Tuesday evening during an election forum.

The event brought a dozen hopeful candidates from both city and parish wide elections to the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center and offered a three-minute introduction speech followed by one-minute responses to questions from the audience.

The race for Vidalia police chief gathered the most questions from the audience as incumbent Police Chief Arthur K. Lewis and former Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Todd Ainsworth took to the stage.

Audience members asked what both candidates would do to address alleged uptown and downtown feud issues between Vidalia and Ferriday.

Ainsworth said having officers known in the community always helps.

“The longer you keep officers, the more the community gets involved with these officers and feels comfortable with them,” Ainsworth said. “I think the new park area that’s being built will help so the kids can play together instead of having kids play uptown and downtown.”

Lewis said issues relating to feuds between neighboring cities is an ongoing problem that needs to be constantly observed.

“I’ve patrolled these streets, dispatched these streets or investigated these streets, and I don’t know the answer to that yet,” Lewis said. “We’re just going to have to keep working on that.”

Ainsworth said the obvious solution to local drug and gang activity is a narcotics task force strictly for Vidalia.

“That way they know the people that are bringing in the drugs and they know the ones they need to target, and that way it’s not left up to patrol officers to make arrests at a traffic stop,” Ainsworth said. “I also plan on bringing K-9 officers back in town. We need to have these dogs go in the schools and sniff the lockers just to keep the kids on alert.”

Lewis said drug problems in the schools and in the city have been and continue to be addressed since he took office 18 months ago.

“I’ve utilized the resources I’ve had, and it’s being coordinated through the U.S. Marshals and the Concordia Task Force Team,” Lewis said. “The police department is going to take care of you, and this issue has already been solved.”

After the forum, Ainsworth said he will continue to campaign until the election and knows it’s an uphill battle.

“I feel like it’s going to be a close race, because it’s always hard to beat an incumbent, but he’s also a well-liked and good guy,” Ainsworth said. “But I’m running for the people and for the community.”

Lewis said he feels comfortable going into the election and that he’s leaving the rest to a higher authority.

“This is what I’ve done all my life, and if this is what the good Lord wanted for me, then this is what I’ll do,” Lewis said. “I just want to be able to provide for my family and keep this community safe.”