Recreation, fire taxes easily approved

Though Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Barack Obama won Saturday’s Louisiana presidential primary, Terrebonne and Lafourche parish voters disagreed, casting more ballots for John McCain and Hillary Clinton.

In Terrebonne, 45 percent of primary voters cast ballots for Republican McCain to 39 percent for Huckabee. In Lafourche, the percentages were 43 to 40 percent. McCain was the top vote-getter in St. Mary Parish with 44 percent.

For the Democrats, Clinton won Terrebonne over Obama by a single percentage point, 47 percent to 46 percent. The contest in Lafourche was lopsided in favor of Clinton, however, 62 percent to 29 percent. In St. Mary Parish, Obama had 63 percent of the vote.

The Tri-parish area conducted two lower-profile elections Saturday, one in southern Terrebonne and the other in Grand Isle.

In Dularge and Theriot, Fire District 10 voters approved a property tax increase to pay for the fire department’s maintenance and operations. Voters also approved a $900,000 bond sale to pay for new fire-fighting equipment, 66 to 34 percent.

Prior to approving the change, residents in District 10 paid 5.05 mills for maintenance and 12.13 mills for operations, separately. The ballot measure combined the two taxes and hiked the rate 6 percent. The measure passed by a similar margin, 66 to 34 percent.

Money from the bond will be used to purchase a new fire engine and rescue truck. The funds will also pay for roof repairs at Station No. 2 on Bayou Dularge Road.

Fire District 10 contains 2,221 registered voters. Turnout for the election was 22 percent for the tax hike and 21 percent for the bond proposal.

In Grand Isle Saturday, longtime Mayor David Camardelle easily won a fourth term, beating lone challenger Frank Besson with 77 percent of the vote.

Grand Isle Police Chief Euris DuBois won re-election to a second term, gaining 65 percent of the vote over two opponents. DuBois had served on the Grand Isle Town Council from 1996 to 2004.

Three seats on the council will be decided in runoff elections.

Incumbent Roger Carmadelle will face Clifford Santiny in the Seat C election.

For the open Seat D position, Stephen Resweber will meet Aubrey Chiasson. Three-term incumbent Carol Allemand will face Leoda Bladsecker for Seat E.

Ray Santiny and Jay Lafont won seats A and B, respectively, unopposed.

In St. Mary Parish, voters in Recreation District No. 3 overwhelmingly approved a 4.5 mill tax. The measure netted 67 percent of the vote.