Well, I’ve been following local politics with much interest as of late, and one of the most interesting races is in District B. One of the things that make it so interesting is the plethora of acceptable candidates.
(Damn, I’ve been able to use plethora and troika in posts this week. If I can get oligarchy and kumquat in soon, I’ll have all of my favorite words in one week. Huzzah!)
I’ve been doing this with the help of the wonderful as always election guide by the League of Women Voters. This document includes questions posed to the candidates, and their responses. I encourage you to read the guide, as it will truly help you make a more informed selection.
The candidates for this race are Quentin R. Brown, Michael A. Duplantier, Stacy Head, Shane P. Landry, Renee' Gill Pratt and Marshall Truehill.
From the LWV literature, it appears that these are all well qualified, or at least passionate. Ms. Gill Pratt is the incumbent, so for my purposes, she’s not even a consideration. Also, her association with William Jefferson is troublesome, to say the least. For once in NOLA politics, it appears that there are many incumbents who will not make the runoff.
Quentin Brown, you may have noticed, is the gardener that has the magic marker signs out that say NO B-S. I do not doubt the man’s passion, truthfulness or enthusiasm, and I would like to see him have some type of venue in which to use it. If we could channel this unbridled enthusiasm and no-nonsense approach, we’d have a hell of a politician. Only problem is that he needs about 3 handlers. Check him out at a debate. You will see him in a different light, kind of like how Al Sharpton would take over the Democratic Presidential Nominee debates in 2004 by making either insanely outrageous or shockingly intelligent observations.
Mr. Duplantier no doubt appears to be an honest and trustworthy individual, and I like his stand on many of the issues. I believe that a vote for him would not be a waste by any stretch of the imagination. He has a history of standing by preservationists and homeowners over the developers that want to turn parts of town into an overpriced, condo-rich yuppie hell. Look at his website, and read about his debate performance. He clearly knows what he’s talking about.
Stacy Head troubles me. She is bright and articulate, and has definite goals for the city. However, it appears to me that those definite goals include turning NOLA into a Mecca for developers. She seems to think that renovating houses and flipping them for profit should be considered community service. Well, it may help her bottom line, but it is not exactly Vincentian. I know she claims to sell them at a fair profit, but make no mistake; she’s in it for the bucks. She also has a token Section 8 rental, to give her street cred.
At the Broadmoor District B debate, Ms. Head was asked point blank about attempts to overrule the Kelo v. New London case. (BTW, the Times-Picayune carried this story about Kelo v New London today, on page A-5.) This is the one where the SCOTUS allowed a town in Connecticut to expropriate private property and turn it over to developers by claiming a public benefit. That case scares the heebie jeebies out of both homeowners and preservationists alike. Stacy is NOT in favor of the LA legislature overruling that case, which dicta in the opinion gave them the power to do.
What does this mean to you and me? Well, just like Cowen and Wildes, she’s going to use post-K problems as an excuse/justification to trash everything. You’ll be seeing a lot more Tchoupitoulas-style Wal-Marts, all under the guise of “it will help us rebuild”. Anything and everything can be expropriated and demolished under Kelo v. New London for the "public benefit". She is a faux preservationist if there ever was one.
Finally, there are a few other things that bother me more about Ms. Head. She was endorsed by the state Republican Party. I have no problem with Republicans; I have a problem with people becoming Democrats in New Orleans, but maintaining their Republican positions, because they think it will get them elected. I thought that she reminded me of Ron Forman, in that she is a Democrat in name only, in an attempt to convince the poor to vote for her. Then I found out that she has the same Republican strategist, prominent GOP leader Bill Kearney, as the contemptible Jay Batt and the weasely Ron Forman.
edited to remove hearsay quote from Mr. Quentin Brown
Considering her avocation as a developer, she seems to not quite realize that here in New Orleans, appropriate for the neighborhood actually carries more weight than puts dollars in the pockets of the developers. But as a developer herself, I don’t think she can be objective about that.
I also wish Ms. Head would use Al Snow’s old tag line. “What does everybody want?” Head!
Shane Landry is devastatingly impressive. He is educated, well read, multilingual, and definitely gets New Orleans and South Louisiana. If you read his platform, it sounds like he’d make a great Mayor. In fact, I’d prefer him to Mitch, who is my pick in the primaries. He’s ambitious, and he doesn’t seem to buy into the “that can’t be done” mentality. I believe that he would be the best choice for his constituents, who are fortunate to have a wealth of qualified candidates.
Marshall Truehill is a man of God, a man of learning, and a man of service. How can you not like the guy? He has a plan to create improved and affordable housing stock, whereas Ms. Head simply wants to create profit for developers and rehabilitators. He also has a realistic plan for balancing historic preservation and economic development. Check him out.
Here’s the T-P analysis.
Read the candidates websites, read the LWV guide, and find out all you can about them. This is the most important election in New Orleans since reconstruction, and we need to start with people who do not believe in business as usual.
Your Venn diagram would apply to Ms. Head's support base as well.
Posted by: Mr. Clio | 18 April 2006 at 09:23 AM
Disappointed in the fucklessness of this post. Was the bourgeois air of the LoWV guide so powerful that you couldn't even manage a "cocksucker" or two?
Posted by: Ray | 18 April 2006 at 09:40 AM
Ashley, Did you watch the mayoral debate last night? What did you think about Watson? Just curious.
Posted by: Brownsavvy | 18 April 2006 at 01:44 PM
Savvy, my thoughts were echoed by Sidney Barthelemey. Watson had several opportunities to really shine, and he didn't use them. I don't know if he was trying to play safe or what, but when you're second tier, you can't play safe.
And Ray, contrary to popular belief, I am not Al Swearingen. Usually.
Posted by: ashley | 18 April 2006 at 04:59 PM
"Association with Bill Jefferson." I heard (at a Stacy Head event--hang my head in shame, but I didn't vote for her) that Pratt lives with Jefferson's brother. Is this the case?
Posted by: Mr. Clio | 19 April 2006 at 07:41 AM
Before you start posting negatives on candidates you should get your facts straight. Stacy Head is in no way affiliated with the Jefferson's. In fact, check out Renee Gill-Pratt's website - she is endorsed by Bill and Jamila. While Duplantier seems to be smart, and is certainly a huge improvement from Pratt, what has he actually done to help the city. Yes, Duplantier has served on a lot of boards and committees, but has he rolled his sleeves up and actually tried to make a difference for the community as a whole.
You indicate that Stacy Head renovated and flipped houses all for profit. However, what you don't state is the real reason she started doing it. I heard her talk about it at a meet and greet in the Irish Channel. She began doing it about 5 or 6 years ago, because there was a huge problem with crime in her neighborhood. Instead of giving in and moving out of New Orleans, she bought blighted (and I mean blighted - she had before and after pictures) and renovated them on her own. She literally tore out sheetrock, sanded floors, etc. And yes, while she may have made a profit, so what? You can't expect people to do it for free. What she did do, is sell most of the homes to first time, low to middle income homeowners who may not have been able to afforded it otherwise. Also, she began doing this long before she ever decided to run for office, so to say she has a "token sec.8" tennant is B.S. That's the way you help communities.
Yes, she did get the Republican endorsement. However, as she said, she has been a registered democrat her entire life and to me the Republican endorsement shows that she is capable of working with everyone, which is desparately needed in the City Council. And, big deal if she uses the same political consultant as Ron Forman. Apparently she is smart enough to hire the best - she is leading in the polls.
Finally, it seems to me that we need a council person who is willing to actually "do" something for District B, not just chair some committee. Stacy Head is that person.
Posted by: Kelli Johnson | 19 April 2006 at 08:56 AM
Kelli,
As a result of your comment, I removed the hearsay quote from Quentin Brown.
However, I fully stick by the rest of the piece.
Kudos to Ms. Head for making big bucks flipping houses. Nice way to make some money, especially in this city. However, her website makes it sound like she's doing this for charity. Bullshit. I understand her motives for getting into it, but the website makes it sound as though this is community service, and there is no profit involved.
As my post said, I find some things troublesome: mainly, the tie in between her avocation as a developer, and her support for eminent domain. Post-K, that gives her a license to "renovate" anything she wants.
As for the remark about "hiring the best" Republican consultant, well, I believe that you're either with your registered party, or you aren't. Couhig is a Republican, and I have no qualms whatsoever whith that. Stacy and Forman are Democrats letting Republicans run their campaigns. "The Best"? So, you're saying, if Karl Rove were available, she should hire him?
Oh, and Kelli, nice fake email address. Troll.
Posted by: ashley | 19 April 2006 at 10:03 AM
Why is it that any time someone dares to criticize Stacy Head they're called a liar? That sounds like a Bush-Rove tactic to me. Smear and run.
Posted by: Joseph | 19 April 2006 at 11:51 AM
If you're interested in where the Mayoral and At Large Candidates (as well as District C) stand on Neighborhood issues, there is great in-depth non-partisan data at www.NeighborhoodsVote.com.
It was created by a group of neighborhood leaders from across the city. It truly does not push any specific candidate. Can you give us a plug? We're just trying to get the information out there! Thank you!
Posted by: Nathan Chapman | 20 April 2006 at 12:18 AM
http://humidhaney.typepad.com/the_humid_haney_rant/2006/04/dont_critique_s.html
Posted by: humidhaney | 20 April 2006 at 08:58 AM
Humid Haney is da man. Or is it Mr FYYFF? Hard to decide...
Posted by: Joseph | 20 April 2006 at 09:16 AM
What do you mean ?
Posted by: music | 30 January 2008 at 06:16 AM
Cecilia, these are beautiful! I can see that your going to have your hands full.. :) eaesciplly with three so close in age! So sorry your feeling exhausted and in pain at the end of the day. Hugs, prayers and blessings over you and your pregnancy!!
Posted by: Abdulgalil | 24 May 2012 at 05:14 PM