No opposition for Cormier, legislators

Parish President Guy Cormier, along with Coroner Dr. Warren Degatur Jr., are the only two parishwide elected officials who are unopposed in the fall primary election.
With qualifying ending last Thursday, Cormier will return for a third full time in the top parish governing position. But other incumbents – Sheriff Ronny Theriot and Clerk of Court Becky Patin – are both being challenged.
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Long time Assessor Lawrence Patin is retiring at the end of his current term.
Also getting “free rides” in their bids for additional terms are most local and area state legislators. State Senators Fred Mills Jr. of Parks (R-Dist. 22) and Rick Ward III of Port Allen (R-Dist. 17) along with State Representatives Mike Huval of Parks (R-Dist. 46), Taylor Barras of New Iberia (R-Dist. 48) and Sam Jones of Franklin (D-Dist. 50) all continue in office without opposition.
In the only contested legislative races that affect portions of St. Martin Parish it’s incumbent Rep. Terry Landry Sr. of Lafayette, a Democrat, of Dist. 96 being opposed by Raymond “Shoe-Do” Lewis, a fellow Democrat from New Iberia who also ran four years ago.
With Senator Elbert L. Guillory of Dist. 24 running for lieutenant governor, two candidates are vying for his vacated seat. They are Democrats Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette and Ledricka Johnson Thierry of Opelousas.
Three of the nine Parish Council members – Jason Willis of Dist. 3, Neil Thibodeaux of Dist. 4 and Jill Hebert of Dist. 6 – are also unopposed.