VIDALIA — Several candidates seeking positions in Concordia Parish will not be facing any opposition on Election Day, including Ridgecrest Mayor Dwayne Sikes.

Sikes was appointed mayor in November 2011 after former mayor Kevin Graham resigned amid controversy surrounding the town’s finances. This will be Sikes first time running for mayor.

Sikes says serving as the mayor of Ridgecrest for almost a year has been a learning experience for him.

“Trying to get this town back financially straight, it’s been the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced,” Sikes said.

Paying the back taxes the town owes is a top priority for Sikes, but he said he is also focused on making Ridgecrest a great place to live and improving the lives of residents.

A large part of that, Sikes said, will be cleaning up the town and making it more presentable. He said that is especially important with economic development prospects in the surrounding areas that could entice people into relocating to the Miss-Lou.

“Those people (relocating) are going to need a place to live,” Sikes said. “I want to get the town cleaned up and looking nice.”

Sikes said he is cracking down on abandoned cars and other litter on residents’ property, as well as painting utility poles and cleaning up the park.

“I moved here when I was 11 or 12 years old, and I want to get the town looking like it did when I was a kid,” he said.

The other unopposed candidates are:

• Warren S. Enterkin, Democrat, Concordia Parish School Board, District 5, Place A

• Benja R. Fussell, Republican, Justice of the Peace, District 1

• ”Tim” Charrier, Justice of the Peace, District 5B

• Dwayne Sikes, mayor of Ridgecrest

• Somer Lance, Ferriday alderman, District A

• Sandra Gail Pryor, Ferriday alderman, District C

• Gloria Lloyd, Ferriday alderman, District E