MONTEREY — Keeping roads paved and dry prevailed as top issues for Monterey residents in the parish, according to candidates for district 5, place B.

Three candidates, Kent Campbell, Tim Charrier and incumbent Tommy “Red” Tiffee, all said they are eager to serve the parish.

Kent Campbell

Campbell said he doesn’t want to raise taxes, but keeping the parish clean, it’s waterways cleared and roads passable would be his priorities in office.

“I live on a parish road, so I know how it is,” Campbell said.

Campbell said the police jury has been working on drainage, but maybe not hard enough.

“(Drainage) hasn’t been on the front burner, but we need to be getting things draining properly,” he said.

Campbell said his leadership roles in the Vidalia unit of the National guard and at the Monterey First Baptist Church qualify him for a role leading the parish on the jury.

His outgoing personality makes him easy to talk to, something he said residents should be able to do with their juror, Campbell said.

“I love where I live and I wanted to help my community,” Campbell said.

“I prayed about it, and I’ve felt the Lord kind of led me into this direction.”’

Timothy “Tim” David Charrier

Charrier said he is running for police juror to serve the community, try to improve roads and drainage to to bring new industry to Concordia Parish.

He said leadership skills he picked up as a service manager for 13 years at the local John Deere dealership, his experience in construction and farming make him the best candidate for the position.

Charrier said he would try ot make sure as a juror that canals are open and cleared to help with drainage. Also, the parish could look into adding ditches or canals when needed.

Charrier said he would like to improve maintenance of existing roads and pave more roads.

“And I would look out for anything of economic benefit to our parish,” Charrier said.

Tommy “Red” Tiffee

Tiffee said he enjoys serving his district and has more he would like to do as a police juror if re-elected.

He said his 15 years of experience as a juror qualify him for re-election.

“I’ve been there long enough and know what needs to be done and know how to get it done,” Tiffee said.

Tiffee said he, too sees the need to tend to roads and drainage with what little money the jury has. And he knows which ditches need to be cleared to alleviate those problems.

He said he is currently working with the jury on a plan to improve the drainage system at his end of the parish by adding another outlet at Calhoun Bend.

“(The system) will keep (water) from coming to Ferriday and back down,” Tiffee said.

Tiffee said since he is a self-employed farmer, he is available to the people of his district.

“I’m just here to serve here 24 hours a day, seven days a week if anybody needs me,” Tiffee said.