VIDALIA — Issues with drainage and road infrastructure have six candidates, including the incumbent, vying for Concordia Parish Police Jury district 5, place A seat.

The six candidates running include Jack Crane, Karl Davis, incumbent “Jimmy” Jernigan, Samuel “Tom” Lowry, Karvi Tarver and Wilbur “Steel Bill” Washington.

Jack Crane

Experience with the Concordia Parish drainage committee and previous knowledge of roads in the parish led Crane to compete in the race.

“I’m acquainted with the drainage situation, and working with AT&T for 39 years, I’ve worked on almost all the residents’ telephones, so I know almost every road in the parish,” Crane said. “I have worked with the people, and I have a pretty good understanding of the parish.”

Crane said apart from drainage issues in his district, maintaining solid road infrastructure is vital.

“After we take care of drainage, we need to look at some of these roads like Ames Road that’s in pretty bad shape,” Crane said. “I’d like to have about a mile and half of it, where residents live, to be hard surfaced.”

Crane said he wanted to remind citizens to get out and vote this Saturday.

“Voting is the way we can step through to the future and get things done,” Crane said. “I’d like to be able to help them get these things done.”

Karl Davis

Uniting the community to accomplish shared goals is what Davis said led him to run for the police jury position.

“I see things, and I listen to people talk about things that need to get done and I’m trying to get involved with the community in my district and get some improvements,” Davis said. “If you come to me with something, I’m going to do my best to get that done or at least get you feedback about why it can’t be done.”

Davis said more road infrastructure projects, like the future work on Airport Road, need to be implemented to keep roads maintained in the parish.

“Airport Road needs it bad because it’s about the roughest road in the parish, but there are some more that need attention,” Davis said. “There are also a lot of drainage problems that could be helped by keeping the drains clean.”

Davis said he wants to remind voters that if elected, he will be there to unite the community.

“Anyone who votes for me or comes to me with a problem, I will be taking their problem before the jury no matter what,” Davis said. “We’re going to discuss it, and I’m going to get them an answer. Give me your vote, and I’ll be your voice.”

“Jimmy” Jernigan

Two-term incumbent Jernigan said continuing drainage and road infrastructure projects on the horizon is the main reason he chose to seek re-election.

“The big issue is drainage, and that’s something that’s been a problem since I’ve been here, but we’re constantly working on it,” Jernigan said. “I love this job and representing the people.”

Jernigan said the creation of the drainage committee and a solid working relationship with the U.S. Corps of Engineers are the right steps that need to continue in order to fix drainage in his district and the parish.

“We need to work on getting those silt bars out of some problem areas,” Jernigan said. “The Corps told us we needed to a have a three-year study conducted, but we just don’t have the money to do that, so we’re going to try and clean out certain spots instead of the whole thing that would cost a lot more.”

Jernigan said he hopes voters take into consideration his experience and dedication as they hit the polls.

“I don’t just go knock on doors when it’s election time, I return every call and go out and see what people’s complaints are,” Jernigan said. “I appreciate (the voters) getting out there to vote, and I’d like to continue to represent them like I have been the past 8 years.”

Samuel “Tom” Lowry

Lowry said unity among all public boards in the parish is a top priority for his campaign.

“I want to try and get the police jury unified with all the other public bodies in the parish to save our parish,” Lowry said. “I want to represent the people.”

Properly maintaining ditches in the entire parish is the key to a successful drainage system, Lowry said.

“It doesn’t do any good to go clean out a ditch in the north end of the parish to put more water in the south end of the parish where they can’t handle it already,” Lowry said. “It’s an ongoing problem that needs to be fixed.”

Lowry said if elected he would implement the same financial strategies used to run many successful companies.

“The money taken from the taxpayer doesn’t get spent on what it should be, and it should be run like any other business,” Lowry said. “I think I have a great opportunity to help serve the people and move this parish forward.”

Kari Tarver

Attention to the entire parish, not just each district, was the deciding factor for Tarver to seek the police jury seat.

“I think some things have fallen through the cracks over the years, and every district makes up this parish, so they should all be treated the same,” Tarver said. “I’m running for the people.”

Tarver said drainage issues in the Wildsville and Monterey area continue to escalate and need to be addressed.

“It gets all backed up because the ditches weren’t being dug out properly,” Tarver said. “If they were cleaned out and maintained properly that would help, but they need to dig out drainage tunnels for that, too.”

Tarver said having a new face on the board can bring fresh ideas to old problems.

“We need a fresh pair of eyes on things because the younger generation is more gung-ho about getting things fixed and doing it right the first time,” Tarver said. “Every three months, I will be driving the whole district and hearing all the complaints and taking those back to the board.”

Wilbur “Steel Bill” Washington

Washington said responses from community members in his district propelled him to run for the seat.

“You hear so many complaints about people’s concerns, and I’m just trying to help them get those things done,” Washington said. “This is my first time running for political office, but I know I can be the best candidate.”

Washington said flooding issues in the Wildsville and Washington Heights areas are concerns of district residents and will be top priority on his list if elected.

“I’ve talked to a lady that says every time it rains, the water gets so high it’s about to take her trailer away,” Washington said. “We need to get involved and fix these issues.”

Washington said if elected, he will always focus on the issues most important to the community members.

“I sure wish I can get their support, and if I get elected the district will never be forgotten,” Washington said. “If I can help someone along the way, I’ve had a good day.”