Vote early April 19-26 for St. Martin tax renewal, St. Martinville runoff election

Early voting in the St. Martinville city runoff election and a parishwide special tax election starts Saturday, April 19, and ends Saturday, April 26, with no voting in the intervening Sunday.

The announcement comes from Patricia T. Guidry, St. Martin Parish Registrar of Voters.

Early voting locations are the registrar’s office in the New Courthouse Annex Building, 415 Saint Martin St., in St. Martinville, and the Sydnie Mae Durand Senior Citizen Center (Council on Aging building) at 391 Cannery Rd., Breaux Bridge.

Voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The election for mayor and one City Council seat and the proposed millage renewal will be Saturday, May 3.

St. Martinville Mayor Thomas Nelson is in a runoff with Melinda “Mel” Narcisse-Mitchell, a former state worker.

In District 4, incumbent Debra Landry faces former SMPD Assistant Chief Nary Smith Sr.

The St. Martin Parish Democratic Executive Committee is hosting an open forum for all candidate in the St. Martinville runoff at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at City Hall.

The eight proposals on the ballot May 3 are all renewals, continuing existing property taxes to support:

•Roads and bridges – 4.57 mills raising $1,450,000 a year;

•Drainage – 6.49 mills, $2,050,000 a year;

•Libraries – 4.21 mills, $1,300,000 a year;

•Recreation – 1.29 mills, $410,000 a year;

•Public health – (3.29 mills, $1,050,000 a year;

•Courthouse – 2.20 mills, $700,000 a year;

•Fire protection – 6 mills, $1,900,000 a year;

•Industrial park – 1.91 mills, $600,000 a year.

The dedicated renewals would all run for 10 years.