By JIM BUTLER

In the end Rapides residents who voted Saturday favored experience in the Clerk of Court’s post.

Karan Corley, a 32-year employee in the Clerk’s office, got 75 percent of the vote over Thomas David III from the 20.5 percent of registered voters who turned out.

Corley will serve the unexpired term (2.5 years) of Robin Hooter’s fourth term. Hooter, who supported Corley, her former chief deputy, retired at the end of November.

According to most-recent reports filed before the primary both candidates spent at least $100,000, with each loaning their campaigns substantial sums.

David seeded his candidacy with a $120,000 loan back in November. Corley, who previously had loaned her fund $10,000 on two occasions, loaned it another $81,000 in the Feb. 18-March 9 reporting period.

Corley’s campaign had contributions of about $82,000 from start to the March 9 report; David about $45,000.

David reported spending $148,000 and Corley $94,000. She had $83,000 on hand March 9; he had $11,000.

Leading Corley’s spending were marketing/mailing costs, totaling about $42,000. David’s campaign management expense totaled $105,000.

The Hooter Campaign Fund contribution of $3,500 led donations to Corley’s campaign in the reporting period. That fund had contributed a total of $6,000 through the period.

Other contributions of $1,000 or more in the period included:

Claude Bouchard, Austin, TX; Jeff Easley, Pineville; ARental Gallery, Alexandria, all $1,500; C.E. Sikes Properties, Foster Construction, Pineville; Hunter & Beck LLP, Thomas Wahlder, Alexandria, $1,000.

Contributors of $1,000 or more to David in the same period included; William J. McPherson, Woodworth, $2,500; Central Management Company, Winnfield, $1,500; Anton Enterprises, Campaign to Elect Lee Rubin, Finney Pediatric Dentistry, John M. Tudor, William Vollman, Alexandria, $1,000.