Vic Salvador and Nathan Keller are headed for a runoff in the race for Ward 3 City Marshal.

The two candidates were neck-and-neck with each taking 24 percent of the votes, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State.

Salvador, a Republican, had 7,323 votes, slightly edging out Keller, a Democrat, who had 7,264 votes.

If he is elected in the Dec. 8 run-off, Salvador has said he has an interest in implementing programs that include alternative sentencing, diversity training and a Junior Deputy program. He said none of those programs would involve costs to taxpayers.  

A graduate of McNeese State University, Salvador recently retired from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office as commander and chief deputy over the civil division.

Keller, who went to work for the Lake Charles Police Department in 1988, has been a corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and a captain with the department.

He has been named a supervisor of the year, officer of the year and volunteer of the year with LCPD.

Keller has been involved with the Cops & Cribs program as well as Read With Me, a program in which officers go into schools and engage with students.

He said this was his first time to run for public office.

The other candidates who were vying for Ward 3 City Marshal were Republicans Karl Gillard, Brad Harris and Jeff Hooper and Democrats Bill Pousson and Jimmy Richard.

Gillard took 17 percent of the votes in the race, with 5,207 votes, while Richard had 15 percent, or 4,549 votes.

Hooper received 5 percent of the vote with 1,607 votes and Harris, with 4 percent, had 1,184 votes.

Residents cast their votes Tuesday afternoon at A.A. Nelson Elementary in Lake Charles.

Rick Hickman