GREENSBURG — St. Helena Parish voters on Saturday selected Gloria Tanner to replace longtime Assessor Wesley Blades.

Complete but unofficial returns show Tanner defeating Kent Blades with 54 percent of the vote. More than one-third of the parish's 8,548 registered voters showed up at the polls. 

Wesley Blades had been the parish's assessor since 1997. Assessors set the market values for property that is later taxed to raise money for local governments. Kent Blades was related to the current assessor.

Also Saturday, property taxes for road-improvement districts were approved in various parts of the parish.

Road District No. 2 won renewal of taxes totaling 11 mills, or $110 a year for a home valued at $100,000. The district covers the northwestern area of the parish and much of Greensburg.

In Road District No. 5, mills total 12.29 — or $122.90 a year for a home valued at $100,000. The district covers the eastern side of the parish. 

Three of the four proposals won by margins near 2-1.