SLIDELL---In a wacky spring election cycle that finds some Slidell officials changing offices and crossing halls, a popular former mayor becomes the first "changeover" to be successfully seated in a new four-year post.

Former Slidell Mayor Sam Caruso, Sr. was elected without opposition Friday to the Slidell City Council for District E.

He joins five other council members, Landon Cusimano and Kim Harbison (Council members-at-large), Lionel J. Hicks (District A); "Joe" Fraught (District D); and "Bill" Bouchert, Jr. (District G), who were all elected without opposition, according to records reported by the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office Friday.

The election, scheduled March 27, features a dramatic twist, as current Mayor Ben Morris is running for his former post as Police Chief, while current Police Chief Freddy Drennan puts his name in the hopper to become Slidell's next mayor.

Confused yet?  Meanwhile in Mandeville, where a special election is being held to fill the vacancy created with the resignation of now-indicted former Mayor Eddie Price, a councilwoman who served under Price and was a vocal opponent of the former mayor, is now running for the position he vacated.

Trilby Lenfant is one of two candidates who qualified as of Friday for the special election to replace Price.

The only other St. Tammany official elected without opposition in this week's qualifying period was Will Talley, an alderman for the Village of Sun.

A number of candidates qualified for the other open fields in St. Tammany and those elections are set for a March 27 primary ballot with a May 2 run-off, if necessary:

Mandeville Mayor: Donald J. Villere and Trilby Lenfant;

Slidell Mayor: "Rickey" Hursey, "Jay" Trainor, and Slidell Police Chief "Freddy" Drennan;

Slidell Police Chief: Slidell Mayor "Ben" Morris, Jason Zar, "JJ" Jennings, and Randy Smith;

Slidell City Council (District B): Richard E. Reardon and "Sam" Abney;

Slidell City Council (District C): Valsin C. "Val" Vanney, Dwayne "Buddy" Lloyd, and Warren Crockett; and

Slidell City Council (District F): Jay E. Newcomb and M.T. "Terry" Youngs.

Slidell voters will get their first look at the candidates for city offices this Wednesday as the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce hosts a candidate meet and greet event for their February lunch meeting.  Tickets are available by contacting the Chamber office.