Three new Webster Parish police jurors were sworn in Monday morning along with the other nine members who won re-election.
Nick Cox, representing District 8, Bernard Hudson, representing District 5 and Dustin Moseley, representing District 12, all say they are excited and ready to get to work to serve Webster Parish.
COURTESY PHOTO/
Jurors Allen Gilbert, District 2, Nick Cox, District 8 and Steve Ramsey, District 11, were sworn in Monday before the Webster Parish Police Jury’s monthly meeting at the Webster Parish Courthouse.
Hudson, who has been in politics in one aspect or another for many years, says he is ready to serve not just his constituents but the parish as well.
“I’m ready to go work,” he said. “This is my third time running, so I’m real familiar with the territory. I love the people of Webster Parish, not only in my district. I’m going to work for Webster Parish, along with my district.”
Cox says he’s excited about getting started and has done his homework.
“It’s quite an honor and it’s very much a pleasure to serve the community,” he said. “I just couldn’t be more excited and more optimistic about the future for District 8 and Webster Parish.”
Moseley says he’s already met with Road Superintendent Teddy Holloway about the conditions of Webster Parish Roads.
“I’m ready to get started,” he said. “We’ve met and looked at a bunch of different things as far as drainage and a few roads. One thing I learned is there’s no set easement on these roads. Some roads have easements, some don’t.”
During his campaign, he said his focus would be on improving the roads in District 12 as well as Webster Parish as a whole. He hopes to begin addressing these issues soon, he said.
Police Jury President Jim Bonsall says he feels like all three jurors will fit in with the seasoned jurors and work well together.
“They are going to be good jurors,” he said. “I’ve met with them and talked to them. They’ve got some big shoes to fill. I think everybody they replaced was valuable to this jury before they came on.”
Cox won the October election after former juror Charlie Odom decided not to run again, and Moseley won a runoff election against opponent Rebecca Shelley-Sherrard in November.
Bonsall says Moseley really has some big shoes to fill following the passing of Charles “Charlie” Walker.
“He may have the biggest shoes to fill,” Bonsall said of Moseley. “It may take him a long time to learn all the things that Mr. Charlie did every day that people just took for granted. It takes a long time to learn all that.”
Hudson replaced Perry Kirkland, winning the seat in the October election. Bonsall says he is involved in his community.
“I know he’s not here for himself, but he’s here for the people in his district,” he said. “I’ve talked to him and I believe that’s the reason he ran for this position.”
Michelle Bates/Press-Herald/Webster Parish Police Jurors Steve Lemmons, District 7, Bernard Hudson, District 5, Vera Davison, District 10 and Jim Bonsall, District 6 take the oath of office delivered by Clerk of Court Holli Vining.
Jurors Bruce Blanton, District 1, Allen Gilbert, District 2, Daniel Thomas, District 3, Steve Lemmons, District 7, Vera Davison, District 10, and Steve Ramsey, District 11, all ran unopposed.
Sitting Jurors Randy Thomas, District 4, Jim Bonsall, District 6, and Jerri M. Lee, District 9, drew opponents. With the retirement of Odom, voters cast their ballots between Cox and opponent Harper Edwards.