Candidate for Abbeville Council race to drop out, leaving Hardy unopposed

It appears there will not be a race for the District A seat on the Abbeville City Council after all.
Abbeville Councilman Louis Joe Hardy, the incumbent, said Tuesday he has been told this week that Creig Walker started the process of withdrawing his name from the race. Walker qualified as Hardy’s only challenger for the seat.
“It feels wonderful,” Hardy said Tuesday afternoon. “I was surprised when I was told that.”
A representative with the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court’s Office said the move is unofficial as of Tuesday because Clerk of Court Diane Meaux Broussard has not yet received an official letter from Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler confirming that Walker has indeed dropped out.
Walker said Tuesday that he picked up paperwork last week from the Clerk’s office to begin the process of exiting the race. A candidate has seven days after qualifying to drop out. Qualifying for the April 5 municipal elections ended on Feb. 14. Walker said he looked forward to the challenge of a race, but timing ultimately played a factor in his decision not to run.
“I just had some personal and family business to take care of,” Walker said. “With some of those things going on, I decided to back out and spend more time taking care of that.
“I have had many people tell me they are disappointed.”
Walker said he appreciates the sentiment from those supporters. The 55-year-old Abbeville native added that similar support may be needed in the future.
“I may jump back in for the next election,” Walker said. “I will revisit this in the future.”
As for the present, Hardy said he is looking forward to continuing his lengthy political career in Vermilion Parish. Once official, this will mark Hardy’s fourth term representing Abbeville’s District A. That is on top of a 28-year career as a Vermilion Parish Police Juror. This will be the fourth time in all of those years that he has gone in unopposed.
“I have been very, very lucky to have this political career,” Hardy said. “It has been really good to me.
“I look forward to continue working with city officials and working for the people in my district.”