BREAKING NEWS: Johnson unseats Grace in St. Gabriel mayoral election

Fomrer St. Gabriel City Councilman Lionel Johnson Jr. defeated incumbernt mayor George L. Grace Sr. in complete but unoficcial returns  Saturday in the race for St. Gabriel mayor.

Johnson drew 742 votes (53 percent) against 625 (47 percent) for Grace.

Grace had served as mayor since the city's incoporation in 1994. He was appointed to the post by then-Gov. Edwin Edwards upon the incorporation of St. Gabriel.

Grace awaits a federal trial in January for charges that include charges bribery, racketeering and extortion.

The charges stem from a federal investigation in which underccover agents posed as businessmen seeking to sell municipalities on a garbage can cleaning system.

Also on the ballot, Police Cheif Kevin "Butchie" Ambeau was elected to a third term when he defeated former chief Pat Nelson. Ambeau garnered 800 viotes against Nelson's 524.

In the race for  the five seats on the Board of Aldermen, all five incuments were re-elected to their posts: Deborah Alexander, 748 votes; Flora Jean Danielfield, 689; Freddie Frazier, 637; Melsin Hasten Sr., 859 and Ralph Johnson Sr., 631.