Posted on 02/17/2006 2:34:41 PM PST by Libloather
Black minister, Nagin critic enters mayor's race
By CHEVEL JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
February 17. 2006 4:50PM
The Rev. Tom Watson III, an influential black pastor and frequent critic of Mayor Ray Nagin, declared his candidacy for mayor Friday, saying Hurricane Katrina exposed the weaknesses of Nagin's administration.
"We have put up with the political foolishness for a long time and the impact from poor leadership was not shown until the storm showed it," Watson said to about 50 supporters on hand for the formal announcement.
Watson is the first black challenger to Nagin, who also is black. Nine others, all white, have said they plan to run in the April 22 election. Candidates will formally sign up for the race March 1-3.
New Orleans had a population of about 465,000, roughly 70 percent black, before Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29. Various estimates now put the population at well under 200,000, with many still displaced because of the storm, which flooded 80 percent of the city.
Race is a big unknown factor in the race because, while many of the displaced are black - and the last four New Orleans mayors have been black - it is uncertain how many displaced voters will participate in the election. The state Legislature has taken steps to try and guarantee displaced residents an opportunity to vote, including laws allowing them to cast ballots at satellite voting centers in 10 parishes around the state and to allow evacuees to vote by absentee ballot even if they have never before voted in person.
Other candidates include WWNO radio host James Arey; lawyer Virginia Boulet; former minor league baseball team owner Rob Couhig; Audubon Institute Chief Executive Officer Ron Forman; investment banker Mike Hammer; community activist and former state Rep. Leo Watermeier; lawyer Bill Wessel and former New Orleans City Councilwoman Peggy Wilson. Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu has said he will formally announce his candidacy next week.
Watson, 50, said his campaign will work to engage New Orleans voters displaced to more than 40 states and now living in cities including Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., and Birmingham, Ala.
"We will go there," he said. "We will knock on doors, on trailers, on mobile homes. We will be on radio and TV and in print so that our voters will understand our message. So, get ready to pack your bags because we will be traveling the country."
Wow.
Laissez les vanilletemps roulet ! ;-)
(Pardon my French)
White chocolate city.
"New Orleans voters displaced to more than 40 states and now living in cities including Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., and Birmingham, Ala."
Sounds to me like most of these people have found a better place to live and don't want to go back-I think this candidate will be taking wasted trips.
Couhig is (or was) a Republican. I don't think a Republican has run for mayor in New Orleans in many years.
If I were Nagin, I would resign, change my name, put on a toupee, move out of the city and start a new life.
I don't believe I would have said that.
Laisse les temps de vanille roulez!
(I think. I'm rusty)
Translation - "How do they really know that they're ALL white?"
Honkeyville ?
Nagin was a Republican who switched to the 'Rats out of necessity to get elected. Until the hurricane, he was shaping up to be the best Mayor the city had in decades... and then afterwards... the hurricane made off with his brain and any reason he had prior to it.
Did you know that Mrs. Nagin and the daughter are living in Dallas in a newly-purchased house? How bizarre !
Probably the only major city Mayor in the history of the nation who actually lives hundreds of miles from the city he governs.
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