VIDALIA — An incumbent Ferriday alderwoman was disqualified Tuesday from running for re-election, and the candidacy of a Vidalia alderwoman is still up in the air.

Judge Harry Randow ruled in favor of the Louisiana Board of Ethics’ objection to the candidacy of Ferriday Alderwoman Somer Lance.

The ethics board objected to Lance’s candidacy because she falsely certified her qualification application by asserting that she did not owe any outstanding fines to the state.

Lance never submitted a 2012 personal financial disclosure statement and late fees had been assessed. Lance said she forgot to submit the financial disclosure documents.

“It’s my own fault for not filing the form and for forgetting about it,” Lance said Tuesday. “I never did it maliciously. God’s got a plan, and I guess this is just not where I am supposed to be right now.”

Lance said she takes responsibility for her failure to submit her financial disclosure form but said she believes the requirements for candidates are inconsistently enforced.

“Right now with everyone qualifying, there’s a lot of things that go on behind closed doors, and I don’t fill out a (financial disclosure) and I’m disqualified?” Lance said. “That’s Louisiana politics for you.”

Lance has served on the Ferriday Board of Aldermen for eight years and said she feels she has disappointed the people of Ferriday.

“I’m sad that my district won’t be given a chance to vote for someone and have their voices heard (because) my opponent, who I don’t even know, will go in unopposed,” Lance said.

“I’m sorry to disappoint the people of Ferriday and let my district down … I’ll still do the best I can to have my voice heard in the town of Ferriday, just not as their alderwoman.”

Lance was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine as well as court costs. She was facing Glenn Henderson in the March 2016 election.

The ethics board also objected to the candidacy of Vidalia Alderwoman Mo Saunders based on false certification as well.

Saunders had filed her personal financial disclosure late and been assessed a late fee. She had made payments on the late fee but still owed money at the time she qualified as a candidate.

Saunders was initially disqualified as a candidate by Judge John Reeves, Ethics Administrator Kathleen Allen said, but then allowed to run.

“We received a judgment (disqualifying Saunders), and then 13 minutes later, we received an amended judgment (that would allow Saunders to run),” Allen said.

The ethics board plans to appeal the judgment, and Allen said the appeal could be heard in court later this week.