Round 1 reflections

“I’ve got to do some campaignin’, cause Ron sucked up all the money” -- C. Ray Nagin, interviewed after the election by WWL

Congrats to all the winners, and congrats to everybody that made the runoff. If you didn’t make the runoff, but you ran a clean campaign, then congratulations, you did yourself and your city proud. If you didn’t make the runoff, and you ran a mudslinging campaign, then apologize to your opponents before you lay your head down tonight. Shame on you.

I like the fact that (at publication time) Forman’s total plus Couhig’s total is still lower than Landrieu’s total. Ladies and gentlemen, we did OK. We don’t have to worry about DINO Gorilla Ron creating a whole new level of racist bureaucracy so that he can get more frequent flyer miles on my dime.

Forman resorted to some utter garbage tactics toward the end, like the full page ad in the T-P stating that Landrieu was soft on juvenile crime. OK, Ron, and you’re soft on pay reform for CEOs of non-profits. Tacky, even for you. Bye-bye, go back to being the highest paid employee in Louisiana.

Couhig put up numbers that bode well for him in the future. Forman was like Couhig lite. I swear, if I found myself identifying with Forman’s platform, I would just go for Couhig. With Couhig, you know what you’re getting. I think that since Ronnie didn’t make the runoff, he should just go ahead and switch back to being a Republican.

Wilson did as poorly as I thought she would, and Watson did horribly. Go figure.

Oliver Thomas did very well, and got a straight-up win. Good for him. Looks like a runoff between Jackie Clarkson and Arnie Fielkow. I thought that Lapin would put on a stronger showing, but I was wrong. Between these two in the runoff, I’m supporting Mr. Fielkow, like I did in the primary, but I think that he may stand an uphill battle against Ms. Clarkson. And what was up with Willie Roaf calling me? Arnie, I got your signs in my yard!

I'm a bit confused. Theoretically, if an at-large candidate got 25% + 1 vote, then they won a seat. But it is possible for 3 candidates to do that, no? So can somebody point me to the tiebreaker? This sounds like when the Saints got rooked out of a playoff spot.

The problem with the IQ ticket (danger: multimedia-filled annoying web site) is that it only works as a block. If one IQ candidate wins (say, the one in the 6th district, mine), then chances are that they will find that the assessments are below market, and the assessments in that district will rise. Assessments in every other district where the incumbents were retained will remain where they are. So we’re penalizing the people who want change…at least, until a single assessor can be named, and I don’t see that happening any time soon. For this, blame the T-P and Gambit, who failed to promote the IQ ticket. Let’s see what Nancy Marshall does with this opportunity.

Let’s hear it for Frank Minyard. He ran unopposed for what has to be the most thankless, the most unimaginable job in Orleans Parish. Who on earth would take the responsibility of being the Coroner for a city that is still finding bodies that have been decomposing for 8 months. I commend Dr. Minyard and his staff to no end. Minyard doesn’t have to do this, people. He’s been doing this for over thirty years, and he probably deserves a nice dock, a fishing pole, and a cooler. At least, that’s what I’d want when I retire. Cheers, Dr. Minyard.

Most of the City Council races played out like I thought they would. District A has a runoff between Midura and Batt. A whole lot more is coming up about Batt soon, trust me on that one. District B had the predictable runoff between Gill Pratt and Head. District C is going to be the crapshoot of all crapshoots. Cynthia Hedge-Morrell did a good job, and got to avoid a runoff, as did Cynthia Willard-Lewis.

I’m optimistic about our future, New Orleans.

Good night, and good luck.

Comments

[Adrastos]

Wow, you're a perky fucker tonight. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum after Quentin finished 4th in District B. The man's a lunatic albeit a lovable one...

[humid haney]

I am feeling alright about it all. Wish more people had the guts for change and breaking from the old-school ways we have embraced and has dragged us down these past few decades.

Any change is good though. Now we need to keep everyone's feet to the fire.

[Adrastos]

I think you're right oh Humid one. I caught our mutual friend's mood last night. It looks bad today as opposed to *very* bad. Hey, at least Batt may go down and I have an IQ assessor.

[Evacuee]

Don't congratulate Minyard too much, when people coming into St. Gabriel with bullet holes in their heads are having their deaths classified as "unclassified" there's something wrong with that.