FERRIDAY —Ferriday aldermen appointed Johnnie “Rip” Woodruff Tuesday to fill a vacancy on the board created by the alderman Johnnie Brown’s death earlier this month.

Woodruff will fill the District D seat on the board of aldermen until a special election later this year.

Brown died on March 16.

Woodruff is a former police officer and is now a substitute teacher. Like Brown was, Woodruff said he would be an advocate for the youth.

“Johnnie had a passion for recreation,” Woodruff said. “The schools in Ferriday, they are failing.

“I think we need to get in contact with educators to see what we can do as the governing body of the town to help these kids to better themselves academically.”

Woodruff said he thanked the aldermen for giving him the opportunity to serve.

“I am looking forward to working with the board and the mayor,” Woodruff said. “We need to work together as a unit where we can move Ferriday forward. No hidden agendas — we need to try to have an open dialogue where we can get some things done.”

Woodruff said he would consider running for the board in the special election.

“I will decide after thought and prayer,” Woodruff said. “I feel like if you seek divine guidance, and do what He wants you to do, then everything will work out OK.”

Alderwoman Gail Pryor nominated Woodruff and he was approved unanimously.

The town adopted a proclamation to hold a special election for the District D alderperson seat on Oct. 14, 2017.

The town is required to have a special election because more than a year remained on Brown’s term. He was reelected in 2016.

To qualify for alderman, a candidate has to have been an elector of the town for at least one year and the person also has to be a resident of the district they will represent at the time of qualification.

District D is within the southwest portion of Ferriday.

Brown had served on the board since 2005 and previously served on the Concordia Parish School Board and the Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 1.

The board unanimously adopted a resolution honoring Brown.

In other news, the board:

• Voted to extend its contract with Waste Pro for three years.

Board Attorney Myisha Davis said the contract would be identical to the previous contract and residents would pay the same rates.

The residential rate is $12.26 per month.

• Designated March 31 as Lena Bateman Day in Ferriday. Bateman will be president of the Louisiana Garden Club Inc. for the next two years.