VIDALIA — With no presidential primary on the ballot and a strong chance of rain on Election Day, candidates competing in Concordia Parish’s general election Saturday will work to the last minute to get voters out to the polls.

Voters will elect a mayor in Ferriday, an alderman in Vidalia, three police jurors and decide whether to renew a 10-year 25-mill school board property tax.

Ferriday mayor

Saturday’s election pits former mayor Gene Allen and fire chief Joe Sontoyo in a run off.

In the primary election, Allen had 46 percent of the vote, and Sontoyo had 30 percent.

To win a race in the primary, candidates must earn 50 percent of the vote plus one vote.

Allen said he and his campaign team have focused on early voting because of the possible adverse weather conditions.

“We basically did the same thing we’ve been doing, but took a big push on early voting,” Allen said. “We’re trying to get the community more involved, and make sure they get out and vote.”

Sontoyo said his campaign is still focused on getting citizens in Ferriday to work together.

“The only thing I’ve done differently since the last election is knock on more doors,” Sontoyo said. “I’m just trying to talk to people face-to-face and make sure they know that if they want to make a change — they need to go vote.”

Mayoral candidate Justin “The Preacher” Conner was eliminated in the primary election after receiving 18 percent of the vote, but joined the Allen campaign team soon after.

“We’re approaching this election unified and making sure we do whatever we can for the community as a whole, not for individuals,” Conner said. “We need to stand unified and get this community back on track, and get Ferriday back to where it used to be.”

Johnnie Brown had 6 percent of the vote.

A total of 1,199 votes were cast in Ferriday’s three precincts.

Vidalia alderman

The District 1 alderman run off is between incumbent “Tron” McCoy and challenger Frank Duson, who were separated by only two votes in the primary.

In the primary, McCoy received 167 votes, or 44.53 percent; Duson captured 165 votes or 44.0 percent.

McCoy said he’s continued the same campaign strategy that he’s been running since qualifying in December, which involves sharing his leadership experience with voters in his district.

“These next four years will be the most critical for the City of Vidalia, and we can’t stand for a learning curve right now,” McCoy said. “This is a critical time for the city and District 1, so now is not the time for change.”

Duson said one of his campaign goals involves unifying the community to move Vidalia forward.

“Not only will I serve as a voice for the people, I will work to promote unity within the community and encourage citizen participation,” Duson said. “I will use my experience in serving the community to help move the city forward.”

Police Jury

In District 4B, Melvin Ferrington, who has represented the board for 18 years and has served as president of the board for nearly eight of them, will face Jimmy “Boo” Wilkinson.

Ferrington, a Democrat, had 347 votes, or 34 percent, and Wilkinson, an independent, had 344 votes, or 34 percent.

Ferrington said he focused on getting the early vote and making arrangements to ensure voters get out to the polls in case of rain.

“It’s going to be hard to get voters out, but I’ve been visiting each and every person in District 4 and telling them what I plan to do in the next four years,” Ferrington said. “I’ve run a good, solid and clean campaign, so I’m leaving it up the supporters and voters.”

Wilkinson said he used the extra time in between elections to knock on as many doors as possible.

“We’re just going door to door and reminding people to go vote,” Wilkinson said. “It’s all working out for us, and I feel good going into Saturday.”

Michael Lyles, a Democrat, had 185 votes, or 18 percent, and joined the Wilkinson campaign team shortly after being eliminated from the race.

“We had the same ideas and shared the same vision for our district and parish,” Lyles said. “We’ve been doing whatever we can to help out (Wilkinson’s) campaign, and just making sure people can get out and vote.”

David Turner, an Independent, had 135 votes, or 13 percent, but said he didn’t assist either candidate in campaigning.

In District 2, incumbent Willie Dunbar will face Fred “Coach” Marsalis.

Dunbar, a Democrat, had 309 votes or 47 percent, and Marsalis, a Democrat, had 208 votes, or 32 percent.

Dunbar said he thinks the school board property tax renewal being on the ballot will help boost the turnout.

“I’m hoping that helps people get out and vote, because I know some people don’t like to go vote in a runoff,” Dunbar said. “I’ve kept my campaign the same and have just been talking to the constituents personally so they know me and my platform.”

Marsalis said the absence of a city- or parish-wide race on the ballot will affect voter turnout, but that he hopes to see voters hit the polls Saturday.

“We’re just working on getting people out and encouraging them to come out and cast their vote,” Marsalis said. “It’s the American way. Hopefully, they vote for me, but we want to encourage citizens just to come out.”

In District 5A, incumbent Jimmy Jernigan will face Samuel “Tom” Lowry.

Jernigan, a Democrat, had 260 votes or 42 percent, and Lowry had 161 votes, or 26 percent.

Jernigan said he is keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts and hopes that doesn’t deter voters from casting their vote.

“That’s one of my biggest concerns right now, but I’ll still be out knocking on doors until it’s time,” Jernigan said. “I’ve just been reminding voters of my platforms, and I feel good going into Saturday.”

Lowry didn’t return several messages for comment.

School board tax

The proposition voters will vote “yes” or “no” for on Saturday, is a renewal of the current 10-year, 25-mill property tax.

The tax, which is dedicated to the general operations of the school system, generates approximately $2.9 million annually

The tax dollars are spent on salaries, benefits, curriculum and instruction needs and supports facility improvement programs.