Choudrant reelects Sanderson mayor

Choudrant voters have reelected incumbent Mayor Bill Sanderson for a sixth term, handing him 56% of the votes cast in Tuesday’s election.

Complete but unofficial returns show Sanderson, a Republican, beat fellow GOP challenger Brandon Milner 277 to 218 in Tuesday’s election.

Approximately 66% of Choudrant voters cast ballots in the mayor’s race.

Village voters also reelected their three incumbent aldermen: John Croswell, Jr., Ricky Maier and Thomas Patton. Croswell lead the field with 302 votes, or 29%; followed by Maier with 280 votes, or 27%, and Patton with 262 votes, or 25%.

Newcomer Blake Duncan ran fourth with 204 votes, or 19%.

Only 46% of Choudrant voters cast ballots in the aldermen’s race.

Sanderson, who succeeded his father as mayor, said several projects are already underway for the new term, including “marching forward” with a planned village park.

He said the village is also working with a medical-related company for possible location in Choudrant.

“I think the wheels are greased to go down that path,” he said.

Sanderson’s father, the late William Lynn “Ikey” Sanderson, was appointed mayor by Louisiana Gov. Earl Long when Choudrant was incorporated in 1949; he never had an opponent in an election until 1988, and easily won that election.

When Ikey Sanderson died, Bill Sanderson served the one year left in his term, and would go on to be elected the village mayor ever since.