With all precincts in, incumbent Sheriff Doug Anderson of Simmesport has won re-election. Anderson had 55.96% of the vote with 50 precincts reporting in the run-off election.

Anderson 6493 votes

Didier 5109 votes

Contender Damon Didier of Marksville has congratulated Anderson, and thanked Avoyelles for letting him have the experience of running. "It has been one great race," he said, and added "May God bless Sheriff Anderson and guide them in the future."

Comments from Anderson will be available soon.

Anderson was first elected sheriff four years ago, when he led a field of several candidates to replace then retiring Sheriff Bill Belt. Anderson, a retired state trooper, kept many of Belt's employee but replaced higher management with other retired state troopers.

This was Didier's first attempt at any political office. The 32-year old is the grandson of the late long time Avoyelles sheriff, F. O. "Potch" Didier.

Avoyelles resident Jim Guillory was not successful in his bid for BESE board.

Also, both school taxes have narrowly passed.

In the Oct. 22 election which led to today's run-off, Anderson, a one-term sheriff, received 49 percent of the votes during the three-candidate primary, while Didier finished with 30 percent.

Gloria Moreau, the registrar of voters in Avoyelles Parish, said approximately 1,800 people voted early in person for the Nov. 19 runoff, not including mail-in ballots. There were a total of 1,741 early votes cast during the October primary.