New Orleans Voters Choose Next Leader Amidst Corruption concerns and calls for Reform
New Orleans residents will head to teh polls this Saturday to elect a new mayor, concluding LaToya Cantrell‘s second term which has been shadowed by corruption allegations. The election marks the beginning of a series of significant mayoral races across the U.S., with contests also scheduled in New York and Detroit in November.
The vote takes place against a backdrop of escalating concerns about crime in the city, prompting calls – including from former President Donald Trump – for the deployment of the National Guard. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has formally requested this intervention, though a decision from the federal goverment is still pending.
Cantrell, a democrat barred from seeking re-election due to term limits, has largely remained out of the public eye since federal charges were filed in August. These allegations center around accusations that she concealed a romantic relationship with her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, and improperly used taxpayer funds to finance personal trips – including visits to wineries - with him. Cantrell has denied any wrongdoing regarding charges of conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice.
This isn’t the first time a new Orleans mayor has faced legal scrutiny. Former Mayor Ray Nagin was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2014 following convictions for bribery, money laundering, and fraud committed during his time in office from 2002 to 2010.
The current field of over ten candidates is largely focused on a message of restoring stability to City Hall. leading the pack in fundraising is Helena Moreno, the current City Council Vice President and a former journalist, who has amassed over $3.4 million for her campaign. State Senator Royce Duplessis and veteran councilman Oliver Thomas are also considered strong contenders. Notably, Thomas previously served 37 months in jail after being convicted of bribery in 2007.
The election will be decided either by a candidate securing over 50% of the vote, or by a runoff election between the top two vote-getters on November 15th.
Moreno, the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a petrochemical executive, is campaigning on a platform centered around improving public safety, bolstering city services, and fostering economic advancement. Thomas has pledged to prioritize the needs of underserved communities, while Duplessis is appealing to the city’s majority-Black electorate, positioning himself as an outsider capable of fixing a “dysfunctional” municipal government.
beyond the mayoral race, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson is also seeking re-election. Her tenure has been marked by criticism following a high-profile jailbreak in May, culminating in the recent capture of the final escapee, convicted murderer Derrick Groves, in Atlanta. Hutson faces several challengers critical of her jail management.
A typically low-profile race for Clerk of Criminal Court has also garnered significant attention. Challenger Calvin Duncan, who spent nearly three decades in prison for a murder conviction before being released in 2011 after presenting new evidence of his innocence, is advocating for improvements to the city’s criminal court records system. However,incumbent Darren Lombard and Louisiana’s Attorney General dispute Duncan’s claim of exoneration,citing a plea deal he accepted. While his convictions were vacated by a judge in 2021,and he is listed in the National Registry of Exonerations,the debate over his case continues.
