Crowley to choose chief Saturday

When Crowley Chief of Police K.P. Gibson was elected Acadia Parish Sheriff on Oct. 24, 2015, the hard work he’d put into winning the election had finally come to an end.
For Jimmy Broussard and Scott Fogleman, however, Oct. 24 was the day their hard work began.
After making the runoff in the March 5 special election, both men have been shaking hands, walking the streets and listening to the concerns of Crowley’s citizens.
“I’m feeling confident that we will be successful,” said Fogleman as he took a short break during his final day before the election. “I’m really giving this my all and am passionate about the prospect of being Crowley’s chief. And I want to let people know to get out and vote.”
“I have loved meeting and re-meeting with friends and family,” said Broussard. “It’s been a wonderful experience as always. I would like to encourage the people of Crowley to get out and vote, which is a right that our armed forces have given us. By voting, you are honoring them. I’ve heard their concerns and I promise to make them my top priority .”
As of Friday morning, Acadia Parish Registrar of Voters Billie Meyer said that 820 people had taken advantage of early voting, with 586 people voting in person and 234 casting their votes by mail.
Many people in Crowley are expecting a tight race in the fight to replace the popular Gibson, who will be midway through his fourth term as chief when he vacates the seat to take the oath as sheriff. Gibson has repeatedly stated that he will not be endorsing anyone in the race, citing his desire to unify the different municipalities of the parish.
“When we use the same training techniques, employ the same tactics and keep each other informed that’s when we can do some serious damage to the criminal elements and that been plaguing some of our neighborhoods,” said Gibson. “I am hoping to get every chief in the parish on the same page.”
The winner of Saturday’s election will serve out the final two years of Gibson’s term.
Other elections
Voters in some areas of the parish also will be voting on a pair of tax proposals to provide and maintain drainage.
Voters in the Second Ward Gravity Drainage District No. 1 are being asked to renew a 10-year, 10-mill levy estimated to provide $110,000 annually for drainage works in the Mire-Branch area of the parish.
That millage, if approved will be levied from 2017 through 2026.
In the Fifth Ward and stretching down through the Lyons Point-South Crowley area, voters are being asked to renew an 8.56-mill property tax for the next 10 years (2016-2025.
That millage generates approximately $143,000 annually for the area.
Polls open Saturday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.