VIDALIA — Three candidates are vying for the District 4B Concordia Parish School Board seat.

The seat was vacated when former school board member Daryle Price resigned after becoming Concordia Parish coroner. One of the candidates, Angela Hayes, has filled the seat in an interim capacity since March. Challenging Hayes are Jeffery Goodman and David Turner.

A correctional officer at Concordia Correctional Center and graduate of Ferriday High School, Turner, 46, said he was running because he wants to see FHS brought up-to-date.

“I feel that Ferriday has lost its pride, and it is time to bring the pride back to Ferriday,” Turner said. “I am not neglecting Vidalia or Monterey, but my main concern is Ferriday – I want to see things happen in Concordia Parish to bring the whole parish together. When we start supporting each other, that means the whole school system.”

Turner cited his experience as a seven-year member of the Ferriday-area recreation board as one of his qualifications, and his openness to suggestions.

“I give my honest opinion, and I will take what someone brings me and will present it to the school board so they will know how the community feels and what we need to address,” he said.

The duties of the school board members are to make sure every school in the parish is taken care of, including not only students but teachers and staff as well, Turner said.

Two of the candidates in the race — Hayes and Goodman — could not be reached for comment in the past week. Goodman had also applied for the post at the time Hayes was appointed, and at the time he told the school board he had lifelong roots in the area and wanted to be involved in the community.

At the time, Hayes told the board she had worked for the school system for two years and for the Head Start program for 17 years, and that she was a team player.