FERRIDAY — Several Concordia Parish politicians remember Al Ater for the impact the local leader had in the local community as well as around the state.

The Ferriday resident and longtime politician died Sunday evening in Houston from complications with brain cancer. Ater, 63, was in Houston for treatment for a brain tumor and died Sunday at the Houston Hospice.

Louisiana District 21 Rep. Andy Anders (D-Clayton) said Monday evening he held a moment of silence in Baton Rouge on the floor of the house in memory of Ater. Anders said Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to have the flag on the capital flown at half-mast in honor of Ater on the day of Ater’s funeral.

Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday said funeral arrangements for Ater were pending Monday.

“Louisiana lost a very, very good politician,” Anders said. “He was my political consultant. He pretty much could predict the outcomes of elections.

“He was just a man who had a talent to figure out politics in Louisiana.”

Anders said when Ater served as interim secretary of state from 2005 through November 2006, he did an outstanding job helping voters participate in the New Orleans mayoral primary in 2006, when the city was still reeling from Hurricane Katrina.

“What he did with the election, after Katrina, with displaced people all over the country, that was just unbelievable,” Anders said. “He truly handled it like a professional.”

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said Ater made it where the people of New Orleans could vote for their mayor.

“He did one of the most daunting tasks that a secretary of state could face, and that’s trying to hold an election in New Orleans after Katrina,” Craft said. “But he was able to pull it off. I think he went to the (Louisiana) political hall of fame for doing that.”

Craft said Ater also had a big impact on the parish. Ater served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1984 and served until 1992, when he opted to not seek reelection and returned to Ferriday to farm and operate an insurance company.

“We were honored to have him serve our area for the years he did,” Craft said. “As a politician, he was as honest as they come.

“He was not only a politician, as he was a successful business man. A lot of people really thought the world of him. He will be missed.”

Craft said Ater was instrumental in Craft’s decision to run for and get elected as Vidalia mayor.

“He said, ‘Your city needs you,’” Craft said.

Craft said after that phone call, he prayed with his family and decided to qualify for the election.

“He was very important at helping me get where I am now in my life,” Craft said.

Craft said Ater did not help him get elected with any expectations of favors.

“There was a lot of misinformation about that. He did not require something in return,” Craft said. “He was an honest man.”

Ferriday Mayor Sherrie Jacobs said Ater spent his adult life serving the public and working for progress in all of Concordia Parish.

“It was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of Al Ater,” Jacobs said. “His presence will be missed. My prayers are with his family and friends as they face life without his exuberant personality and loving spirit.”

Anders said Ater’s family was there for him during his political run.

“I want them to know I will be for them in whatever they need,” Anders said.

Anders said Ater was well-rounded in politics and business.

“I don’t care where you went in the state of Louisiana, someone knew him,” Anders said. “He was well-rounded in everything Louisiana politics.”

Craft said his prayers are also with the family.

“If there is anything we can do to help him pass on his legacy, we would like to do that,” Craft said. “Our prayers are with his family and friends that were real close to him. I just regret I did not get to know him better within the last year and a half.”