Qualifying begins today for Oct. 2 races

With the fall elections just around the corner, qualifying is officially underway for several soon-to-be open positions in Louisiana and the Tri-parish area.

Beginning today, those planning to run for office are required to submit paperwork announcing their candidacy.

For local, parish-wide elections, interested parties are asked to submit their intentions to the clerk of courts office in the respective parish the election is held.

For statewide elections, the Louisiana Secretary of State office is the place to submit requests.

The qualifying period lasts until Friday, and the following positions are going among those to be decided in the fall.

In all of the Tri-parishes, school board positions will be up for grabs on the local level.

On the state level, the Congressional Democratic and Republican primaries will be held on Aug. 28 to pick candidates. A second primary will be held Oct. 2 to find a representative for the 3rd Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives, a seat that will be vacated by Charlie Melancon in his run for the U.S. Senate.

The Senate election will be Nov. 2, and qualifying for that election has not been announced.

The process to announce candidacy is simple. A candidate must fill out just a one-page form listing basic information (name, address, telephone number and position desired).

The phone number for the Clerk of Courts Offices in the Tri-parish area are as follows:

Lafourche: (985) 447-4841

Terrebonne: (985) 868-5660

St. Mary: (337) 828-4100

The website for the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office is: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov.