By LINDSEY SHELTON

VIDALIA — The qualifying period for candidates in the upcoming Concordia Parish and state elections is under way and will continue through Thursday.

Qualifying for local elections began at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and will continue from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Concordia Parish Clerk of Court’s office, Clerk of Courts Clyde Ray Webber said.

Parish-wide positions up for election are sheriff, clerk of court, assessor and coroner.

Webber said there will be no police jury elections in Concordia because the redistricting plans have not yet been approved by the Department of Justice.

In Ridgecrest, the chief of police and one alderman seat are up for grabs.

Those who had qualified by 4 p.m. Tuesday included:

4For sheriff: Kenneth Hedrick, Charles “Junior” Tarver and Robert “Rock” Davis

4For clerk of courts: Clyde Ray Webber

4For Ridgecrest alderman: Jamie Harrison

4For Ridgecrest chief of police: Edwin “Larry” Lawrence

4For state representative District 21: Andy Anders

4For assessor: Jerry Clark

Qualifying for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and a number of other state and federal offices also began Tuesday.

Those who wish to qualify in the state or federal races must do so at the executive offices of the Louisiana secretary of state.

Visit sos.louisiana.gov for a complete listing of state and federal offices up for re-election, as well as full schedule of filing fees and candidate forms.

The primary elections will be Oct. 22 and the general election will be held Nov. 19.