A new candidate has thrown his hat into the ring for the Washington Parish President’s race.

Ryan Seal, the executive director of the Franklinton Area Economic Development Foundation and the Washington Economic Development Foundation, officially announced his intention to run for president Wednesday. Seal made the announcement during the monthly meeting of the Washington Parish Republican Women (WPRW) at Maria’s Mexican Restaurant in Bogalusa.

“After a lot of thought and prayerful consideration, I would like to announce today that I will be a candidate for parish president in the fall election,” Seal said. “If elected, I can promise you, ladies and gentlemen, I will serve with honesty and integrity. I’ll be a good steward of the taxpayers’ dollars. I’ll continue to work to improve our economy, and provide jobs and opportunities for our citizens.”

Seal, who will run as a Republican, is a graduate of Bogalusa High School, has a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana College and a master’s degree from Webster University in St. Louis. He has served in the two executive director positions since 2003.

Seal is vying to replace incumbent Richard “Ned” Thomas, who is running as a Democrat.

Also Wednesday, State Treasurer John Schroder Jr. visited with the WPRW and spoke for several minutes. Schroder won a special election in 2017 to fill the treasurer’s seat left by John N. Kennedy, who became a U.S. Senator. Schroder, of Covington, is running for re-election this year.

Schroder said that he has tried to be responsible with the citizens’ money, and noted that politics cannot be part of the treasurer’s mindset.

“A dollar bill doesn’t have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ stamped on it,” he said.

He noted that politicians in both parties have a problem with spending more than they take in.

“We need to change the way we do business as a government,” he said. “The system cannot sustain itself. The government sometimes forgets that it works for us.”