The next big political campaign in New Orleans is the race for Mayor. Incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin is term limited and cannot seek re-election. With an open seat, there will be a large list of candidates entering the race. Qualifying does not start until later on this year and the election date will be held next February.
It is not too early to start looking at the list of potential candidates. Right now, two African American legislators are already acting like candidates. State Representative Austin Badon (D-New Orleans) and State Senator Ed Murray (D-New Orleans) have been positioning to run for Mayor. Some political insiders are also encouraging another prominent African American, State Representative Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans), to enter the race.
There will also be several serious white candidates. With the election of a white District Attorney in New Orleans and a Vietnamese-American in the race for Congress, many political observers believe that in a post-Katrina New Orleans a white candidate could have a chance to win. There has not been a white Mayor of New Orleans since Moon Landrieu thirty years ago.
Among the potential white candidates, one politician looms the largest, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. He has lost two races for Mayor and was defeated by Ray Nagin in the 2006 mayoral run-off. Landrieu has had a successful tenure as Lt. Governor and is also a potential candidate for Governor. If Jindal stumbles, Landrieu might be the Democratic Party’s best hope to challenge the Republican incumbent.
At this point, Landrieu has not made a final decision on the race. If he decides to run, Councilman-at-large Arnie Fielkow will probably run for re-election to the Council. So, at this point, all eyes are on Landrieu as he makes his decision. The initial polls have all shown Landrieu in first place. His has universal name recognition and is viewed positively by a majority of voters.
Other candidates may decide to run regardless of what Landrieu does. Businessman John Georges is being encouraged to run. He could be the type of independent candidate that may be able to appeal effectively to both white and black voters. Considering he was unknown statewide at the beginning of the Governor’s race in 2007, his third place finish was quite remarkable.
Attorney and former mayoral candidate Rob Couhig, a Republican, may enter the race again. He finished fourth in the last race, but made a very influential endorsement of Ray Nagin in the run-off that alienated many of his supporters. The poor performance of Nagin in the second term could harm Couhig if he attempts another run for Mayor.
There have also been curious “Eddie” billboards appearing around New Orleans. This is obviously an attempt by supporters of Eddie Sapir to encourage him to run for Mayor. Sapir is a former Judge and Councilman-at-large and a very skilled politician. There is no doubt that he would be a formidable candidate if he decided to make the race.
Political commentator Vincent Sylvain reported in a recent newsletter that a host of other potential candidates are also eyeing the race. On Sylvain’s list was Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Civil Court Sheriff Paul Valteau, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, funeral director Emile Labat, housing advocate James Perry, businessman Roy Glapion, Jr., WDSU-TV news anchor Norman Robinson and university administrator Michael Cowan.
Regardless of the exact field of candidates, it will be an expensive and interesting race, one that will be the most important in the history of New Orleans. It is critical that the next Mayor lead a renaissance of the CrescentCity and move New Orleans in a positive direction. The lack of growth and stagnation since Katrina, coupled with a serious crime problem, has harmed New Orleans in many serious ways.
At this point, we will not know the full extent of the candidate line-up until Mitch Landrieu makes up his mind. If he decides to run, he will be the front runner. If not, then expect Landrieu to set his sights on the Governor’s Mansion in 2011.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
