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VIDALIA, La. — Concordia Parish voters elected Republican Donald Trump and “JD” Vance for President, according to unofficial early results.

Voter turnout for the parish was fair with 62.4% of registered voters participating in this election. Of a total of 7,755 ballots cast, there were 3,364 early votes tallied in the presidential election.

Trump and Vance won 4,974 or 64% of those votes to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s 2,698 votes, or 35%.

For United States Representative in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, the parish elected incumbent Republican Julia Letlow with 67% of the votes, or 4,839 total votes. Her opponent Michael Vallien Jr., Democrat, garnered 2,038 votes or 28%, and M.V. “Vinny” Mendoza, Republican, garnered 349 votes or 5%. Overall, in her district, Letlow won 63% of the total votes. With over 50% of the votes, Letlow wins this election without a runoff.

The parish also passed a constitutional amendment on the ballot with 4,451 “yes” votes or 65% of the total 6,842 votes. This amends Article VII, Section 10.2 to include revenue from renewable energy sources to be deposited into the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

Four parish precincts elected David Turner to Justice of the Peace District 1. Turner earned 780 votes, or 63 % of the total votes to his opponent James Skipper’s 425 votes, or 37%.

For Justice of the Peace District 2, the Concordia Parish School Board Annex precinct 2-1 elected Sheila Trust Gardner with 435 votes, or 63% of the total votes to Kevin “Cajun” Friloux’s 254 votes, or 37%.

Ridgecrest Mayor, Alderman

Not only was there a presidential election happening today, but the Village of Ridgecrest voted in the incumbent Independent candidate “Connie” Adair as mayor and Democrat Gerald “G” White as Alderman.

Adair earned 109 votes, or 61% of the total votes to former mayor Veller Ray Carrol’s 70 votes, or 39%. White earned 90 votes, or 54% to Independent Don Lucas Williams’s 77 votes, or 46%.

Adair will finish the remaining two years of the term vacated by her opponent Veller Ray Carroll, who resigned from the seat in July 2023, six months into his term.

“I think this just shows that people of Ridgecrest appreciate what I’ve done in the last 14 months,” Adair said. “Turnout was also pretty good we had close to 200 votes, which is good for Ridgecrest. Of course, it’s a bigger turnout because of the presidential election.”

Adair said her next two years will be a continuation of the work she has been doing.

“I’m going to continue to clean up the village and build the community back like a community should be … If you see something, say something and don’t be afraid to speak up. Things have calmed down a lot. It’s quiet and it’s a calm in our village as it should be. We’ve got a great team where everyone works together and everyone knows upfront what to expect.”

Ridgecrest water has been an issue in the past that has gotten somewhat better, Adair said.

“We have been connected to Ferriday water for some time. Contaminates are about the same but most of the time it’s not brown.”

She added federal capital outlay funds awarded to improve Ferriday’s water and sewage system should also benefit Ridgecrest.

“Whatever they do at that plant to make it better will benefit us,” she said.

To her constituents, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to continue to be their mayor and do my job,” Adair said.