There are three important races on the February 7th ballot in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes which should introduce the region’s next generation of legislative leaders. But of the 81,000 voters eligible to vote in this election, approximately 5% cast their ballot during early voting last week. With sunny skies, warm temps and a gaggle of Mardi Gras parades on Election Day, turnout will continue to be light. Most likely voters have already gone to the polls. Pushing out additional voters on Election Day will take a real effort.
The House District 97 election will fill the vacancy left by Matthew Willard’s ascent to the City Council. It pits property management consultant Eugene Green III, son of current District D Councilmember Eugene Green, against attorney Ed T. Murray, son of former State Senator Edwin Murray. This race has been particularly nasty with Murray circulating surprising passages from Green’s 2024 divorce petition which describe several domestic violence allegations in lurid detail. Though Green and his former wife subsequently reached an amicable settlement, there’s no doubt that this marriage had its ups and downs.
Green and Murray each received a decent share of endorsements and – with their fathers standing behind them – raised or borrowed enough funds to deliver their respective messages.
A shadow campaign was conducted by community activist Belden Batiste and his friends. Batiste of course ran unsuccessfully against Councilmember Green last year. Batiste also has a grievance with the younger Green regarding his previous election to the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee (OPDEC). Batiste was always skeptical- but had no proof at that time – that Green was living in Baton Rouge with his wife which have made him ineligible to run for OPDEC.
In his social media posts, Green claims to be a lifelong resident of Orleans Parish. He is in possession of a driver’s license and voter registration card listing his parent’s home as his own and swore that information was accurate when he qualified for OPDEC. Green filed for divorce in Baton Rouge after candidate qualifications but before the election. In the divorce petition, Green stated his domicile was in East Baton Rouge Parish. Had that divorce petition been public during the OPDEC election, a court challenge to disqualify Green could have been filed. OPDEC elects 14 members from each council district. Batiste received the 15th greatest number of voters. Without Green in the race, Batiste might have won the last slot.
Many OPDEC members were surprised when Green’s divorce petition with its Baton Rouge address became public. OPDEC subsequently endorsed Murray. “I was disappointed when I learned about Eugene’s domicile in East Baton Rouge Parish. Our elected officials are supposed to be honest. Apparently, Eugene was willing to fudge on his qualifying documents to get elected,” said one OPDEC member.
Political players believe that this race is really a challenge to Councilmember Green’s strength and his ability to establish a political career for his son. Green has just begun his second and last term as a district councilmember. If Green can get his son elected to the Louisiana Legislature now, the young man could run for the City Council in the fall of 2029.
Though there are five candidates in the House District 100 race to replace newly elected City Councilmember Jason Hughes, the real contenders are two attorneys- Dana Henry and Kenya Rounds. A favorite with charter school advocates, Henry is a polished speaker with much of the political establishment – and their money – behind him. Henry ran for the seat twenty years ago and has grown significantly as a candidate. Many thought the race was clearly Henry’s to win.
Perhaps not surprisingly Kenya Rounds has picked up steam. Rounds is a personable fellow who knows most everyone and their momma in the district. He’s the kind of guy who might chat you up at Walmart on a Saturday morning. The three ladies in the race – Aeisha Kelly, Candice Taylor and Patricia Boyd Robertson – all have good ideas but failed to catch fire.
In State Senate District 3, Sidney Barthelemy II has done a good job of leveraging his family’s name and his father’s legacy. Barthelemy, a residential builder and former coach, didn’t really start off strong but has grown significantly. Barthelemy should lead the field on Saturday. A win by Barthelemy could breathe new life into the political organization COUP that Mayor Barthelemy and other 7th Ward Creoles including Lambert Boissiere and the late great State Senator Hank Braden started back in the 70’s.
The three remaining candidates – attorney Kenn Barnes, former State Senator Jon Johnson, and union leader Chad Lauga – are all pushing hard for a slot in a potential runoff. Born with a peppy personality and lots of drive, Barnes has been out working hard to build enough name recognition to carry him forward. Johnson, a brilliant tactician who knows how to work a crowd, is counting on his history of service in the community. His conviction for theft of government funds will stop some voters from supporting him. Chad Lauga’s path to victory has always been through the voters of St. Bernard Parish who make up 30% of the district. In his second run for the legislature, Lauga has also been seeking crossover votes in Orleans Parish.
The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
