Posted on 10/31/2005 9:06:35 PM PST by caryatid
After last week's revelation in this newspaper that former Council President Peggy Wilson had met with consultants for a bid to seek the Orleans' Chief Executive post, sources reveal to The Louisiana Weekly that State Senator Francis Heitmeier is also considering a bid for Mayor.
...
The Algiers Democrat, a Caucasian, hails from one of the only parts of New Orleans untouched by Hurricane Katrina could prove a formidable challenge to any candidate, especially Wilson who would count on the area's middle class whites.
...the changing racial dynamics of the Crescent City point to a white candidate having an advantage in February. The recent post-Katrina survey done by the Red Cross shows, however, that at best 40% of the population of Orleans Parish will be Black by February. With the continued refusal of FEMA to fund a plan to help displaced New Orleanians participate in local elections or give state leaders access to the agency's database containing temporary addresses of evacuated residents, African-American turnout may even be lower.
...
That puts the prospective field into an open contest. Sapir potentially carries liberals, white and black, across the city. Senator Ed Murray, the strongest African-American candidate, likely draws black support remaining in the city. Wilson holds white moderates and conservatives particularly in her bases in Uptown and in the Preservationist community in Farbourg Marigny. Mayor Nagin has no clear constituency at this point ... but his power of incumbency certainly delivers votes in middle class black and white districts.
...
[T]he major question looms: what choice will Mitch Landrieu make? If the scion of the state's most powerful political family, with a golden name in both white and black sectors of the city chooses to run, most experts agree that all dynamics change radically.
(Excerpt) Read more at louisianaweekly.com ...
His wife can't even vote for him.
Probably a silly question, but are there any Republicans that might be viable candidates?
Republican Peggy Wilson will probably be a candidate. Others may wish to address whether or not she will be a "viable" candidate.
No constituents for Nagin?
Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy!
God I hope Peggy Wilson doesn't run. I had to deal with her in the Terrell campaign. I think she is nuts what about the guy that represents lakeview I think Peppi Bruneau he is term limited and seems popular.
Is this why he wants displaced evacuees to be able to vote for him through 2008?
-PJ
WelcomeGreetings, and welcome to my re-election campaign web site.
When I ran for Mayor in 2002, it was with a promise to use the skills that I honed as a corporate CEO to turn New Orleans around. I’m pleased to report that the turn-around is in full effect: Jobs are up, overall crime is down, the city’s infrastructure is being rebuilt. We have attacked corruption and increased economic opportunities for all New Orleanians.
There’s a new sense of pride in our city. We are no longer the City That Care Forgot. And the world is taking notice. But our work isn’t finished – not by a long shot. I am running for re-election because there is so much more to accomplish. Please join my campaign, and help me continue the job of making New Orleans the best place in the world to live and to work.
With thanks,
C. Ray Nagin
Is Hizzoner in denial ... or what ... ?
As if Terrell didn't have enough problems.
I think what you are seeing right now is the politics as usual crowd trying to stake out their territory in the aftermath of Katrina. I would assume there are some folks who don't have the infastructure in place to run a political campaign who plan on announcing in the near future.
Yes, but, why would he want to be Mayor of New Orleans ... ? It would seem to be a no-win situation for whoever steps into it. Wouldn't he rather be governor after they finish taking down Me-Maw?
Yes, I agree he would rather be governor.
New Orleans needs a real leader with answers.
In C.B. Forgotston's article "REAL LEADERS PROVIDE ANSWERS" he sums up Mayor Nagin this way:
"As I understand what the mayor told the citizens who had questions, it could be summed up as: The mayor doesn't know much. He doesn't have any details about what he does know. What he says he knows may be inaccurate. He doesn't know what he doesn't know. He doesn't know when he will know what he doesn't know. Nothing is the mayor's fault."
JJ
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