VIDALIA — Driving through Concordia Parish, the causal passer-through is overwhelmed by campaign signs.

Up for grabs this year in Louisiana are state Legislature seats, sheriff positions, police jury positions, state representative positions and state senator positions.

The casual observer might be surprised to know that none of the candidates on those campaign signs have yet actually qualified to be on the ballots.

“The only way their names get on the ballots is by filing,” said Clyde Ray Webber Jr., Clerk of Court for Concordia Parish.

This year’s filing period will be Aug. 6, 7 and 8, Webber said, and filing is just a matter of going to the Concordia Clerk of Court’s office at 4001 Carter St., Room 5, for local candidates.

Candidates for district offices, such as state representatives and state senators, Webber said, can file in the Clerk of Court’s office in any of the parishes in their respective districts.

Webber said filing fee costs vary per position depending on whether it is a local, state or district race and payment can only be made with cash, cashier’s check or certified check.

Webber said he would not seek reelection to the Clerk of Court office he has held in Concordia Parish for the past 55 years.

“I’ve been happy as I can be to serve the people all that long,” Webber said. “I’m looking forward to retiring.”

Webber said he recently got married to his wife, Connie, five months ago and plans to travel in his retirement.

The late Concordia Police Jury Homeland Security Director, Guy Murray, who died unexpectedly last week of a suspected heart attack at the age of 40, had declared his intention to run for the Louisiana State Representative District 21 seat.

C. Travis Johnson also has declared his intent to run for the Louisiana State Representative District 21 seat and following Murray’s death, former Ferriday mayor Glen McGlothin, according to his social media posts, intends to run for the position as well.

Louisiana primaries will be held Oct. 12 and the general election will be Nov. 16.

Offices that will be up for grabs in Concordia Parish and Louisiana this year include Governor, Lt. Governor, State Representatives, State Senators, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Agriculture, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Insurance Commissioner, Sheriff, Tax Assessor, Clerk of Court, Police Jury and Coroner.

Editor’s note: The story that published in the Friday. Aug. 2, edition incorrectly stated where Glen McGlothin’s was formerly mayor. He is the former mayor of Ferriday. We regret the error and are glad to set the record straight.