Candidates seeking offices ranging from the U.S. House of Representatives to the Webster Parish School Board gathered with area residents Thursday morning during the Greater Minden Chamber’s Coffee with the Candidates.
The September 17 event drew a large turnout of candidates to the Webster Parish Council on Aging in Minden, giving voters an opportunity to meet and speak with those seeking office in the November 3 election. The Chamber organized the event as an informal meet-and-greet rather than a traditional political forum or debate.
Candidates for Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District attending included Mike Nichols, Matt Gromlich, and Conrad Cable. The three are among the candidates seeking the congressional seat in the November 3 open primary.
James Green, a candidate for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 5, also attended. Green advanced from the Democratic primary and will face Republican John Atkins in November.
Several Minden municipal candidates participated, including District D City Council candidates incumbent Michael Roy and Braley Raborn. District C candidates Janice “Louise” Keener and Eric Lee also attended.
Three candidates for Minden police chief — incumbent Jared McIver, Ryan Barnette, and Tim Morris — were on hand to meet with voters.
Webster Parish School Board candidates represented six districts. District 5 candidates Ricky Thomas and Mike Wilkes attended, along with District 7 candidates Terry Combs and Tina Douglas.
Heather Feeback, a candidate for District 8, also participated.
All three District 9 candidates — Lloyd Davis Jr., Belinda Neloms Evans, and Patricia Williams — attended, as did the three District 10 candidates, Jeanine Major Franklin, Danielle Phenix, and Robert Louis Stewart Jr.
District 11 candidates Gary Cooper and Tamara Tanner rounded out the school board candidates attending the event.
The gathering allowed voters to move among the candidates, ask questions, and hold one-on-one conversations over coffee. The event was free and open to the public.
The November 3 election includes federal, state, and local races. Early voting is scheduled for October 20-27, excluding Sunday, October 25, with polls open from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.
