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Failed endorsement may get in New Orleans mayor's way
As Democrat backing GOP candidate, he ruffled feathers 12:43 PM CST on Saturday, December 6, 2003
NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Ray Nagin has enjoyed what is probably one of the
longest so-called honeymoon periods in Louisiana political history, but
political observers say the recent gubernatorial election might signal a
reversal of fortune for him.
Because of the Democratic mayor's break with tradition by actively
supporting the Republican candidate, and losing, the honeymoon "may well
be over," according to Arnold R. Hirsch, a distinguished professor of
New Orleans Studies and Urban History at the University of New Orleans.
"People are going to start asking questions," said Dr. Hirsch. "It's
about time when people are going to want results."
Mr. Nagin, a businessman who headed up a cable television company,
campaigned last year promising to eliminate the air of corruption
hovering over the city and state's business climate like a black cloud.
The new mayor's charm and earnest manner have made him popular among
City Hall insiders.
He got a strong, fast start by working with the Orleans Parish district
attorney's office on an investigation that resulted in a series of high
profile arrests on charges of taking kickbacks in the auto inspection
program and taxi cab licensing division.
"He got a big public relations boost from the local media, and then
things seemed to calm down and he almost disappeared from public view,"
Dr. Hirsch said. "I kept waiting for the second shoe to fall, and it
seemingly never did."
Then, in the gubernatorial runoff campaign between Democratic Lt. Gov.
Kathleen Blanco and Republican Bobby Jindal, Mr. Nagin, a Democrat,
endorsed Mr. Jindal. He posted that endorsement on his official Web
site, leading to the accusation that he may have used his official
position for politics in a way that could be unethical.
Mr. Jindal's loss left Mr. Nagin in a potentially precarious political
position. The mayor's endorsement didn't work to turn New Orleans voters
out for Mr. Jindal, Dr. Hirsch said, so how that affects Mr. Nagin's
ability to turn New Orleans' economy around, and Ms. Blanco's ability to
turn Louisiana around, are now under the political microscope.
"He proved the claim he was making all through his political life that
he's not a real politician," Dr. Hirsch said of Mr. Nagin, only partly
in jest.
"He didn't do terribly well with that" endorsement, he said. "It was
done in an inexpert way, which confirms his outsider status."
Mr. Nagin's staff dismissed the accusations of unethical conduct during
the campaign.
"So many people were asking about the mayor's decision-making process,
posting it on the Web was just an efficient way to disseminate that
information," said Patrick Evans, a spokesman for the mayor.
He said the Jindal endorsement did not tell anyone how to vote
On whether his crossing political party lines to support Mr. Jindal
would hurt the relationships between New Orleans and state government
and between his administration and other Democrats, especially the large
African-American community in New Orleans, Mr. Nagin said, "I don't
know. I'm open to working with anybody.
"We'll see what happens," he said.
Marlin Gusman, a New Orleans City Council member and former right-hand
man to Mr. Nagin's predecessor, Marc Morial, portrayed locally as Mr.
Nagin's chief adversary, said he has doubts about Mr. Nagin's ability to
lead now.
"Sometimes I think Mayor Nagin does things just to be different," said
Mr. Gusman, who campaigned for Ms. Blanco.
"I certainly don't think when you count all the votes that a majority of
the people in this community are going to be following behind him," Mr.
Gusman said. "A leader has to lead his people."
Whether Mr. Nagin's endorsement of Mr. Jindal will damage the
relationship between the Governor's Mansion and City Hall in New Orleans
and negatively affect the business climate is probably minimized, Dr.
Hirsch said, by the city's clout in the Legislature.
Other issues related to political changes may have more of an impact on
Mr. Nagin's tenure and reputation, Dr. Hirsch suggested.
Rooting out corruption in a city like New Orleans may take time, he
said. "But at some point you have to produce, and there are some rumbles
about that."
On the up side, he said Mr. Nagin is "personable, a pleasant guy, bright
and seems to have the city's interests at heart rather than narrow,
private interests.
"I would like to think we're on the right track," he said. "But I'm
reserving judgment until I see some more concrete results."
Glynn Wilson is a free-lance writer based in New Orleans.
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