[StBernard] St. Bernard candidates gear up for election day

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard candidates gear up for election day
Reported by: Meg Gatto, Reporter Email: mgatto at fox8live.com
			
Print Story Published: 11/18 9:15 pm Share Updated: 11/18 10:44 pm 
St. Bernard voters get ready to head to the polls Saturday to elect a new
sheriff, amid allegations of voter fraud, dirty campaigning and vandalism. 

Just hours before the polls open, Jimmy Pohlmann and Wayne Landry are
spending their time trying to get every vote they can. These two have had a
contentious race. On Thursday night, someone smashed a window at Pohlmann's
campaign headquarters. When asked if he had anything to do with it, Landry
said, "Absolutely not. If Mr. Pohlmann wants to use ploys like that for
publicity, that's certainly his option but absolutely not."

The vandalism prompted Pohlmann to ask state police to send extra troopers
to St. Bernard to keep an eye on things while people vote. State police say
they won't be sending any extra troopers, however, they will keep an eye on
the situation. Pohlmann says all voting officials will be on stand-by as
well. "Likely if something were to happen, it would likely happen at a
polling place and I think they have a mechanism in place where the
commissioner at that polling place would notify the authorities," Pohlmann
explained.

The two men haven't agreed on anything throughout this campaign, but they do
both agree that the allegations of voter fraud in St. Bernard are very
serious and may influence what happens Saturday. "We hope that people aren't
reluctant to go vote. You have a right to vote, you need to exercise that
right to vote," Pohlmann said.

Landry's camp poked fun at the situation waiving signs that read "Honk if
you live here." 

"I think given what's going on, we already have definitive proof that there
are people outside of this parish voting in this election. Some of the
campaign workers thought it would be humorous I guess to put that but I
think it's on point, you know," Landry said.

Both men say they're ready to put the race into the hands of St. Bernard
residents, and ready to find out who will be elected sheriff.