Retired Judge Arthur Hunter who has been a candidate in the race for Mayor of New Orleans has called a press conference for 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday). According to sources close to the campaign, Hunter will announce the end of his candidacy and pledge his support to State Senator Royce Duplessis.
Duplessis initially expressed an interest in the mayor’s race early last year but pulled back saying that the financial resources he needed might not be available. After watching the campaign’s progress, the poll numbers and fundraising by leading candidates City Council President Helena Moreno and City Councilmember Oliver Thomas, Duplessis suddenly re-emerged. He was quickly embraced by constituents in his district, supporters from his numerous legislative accomplishments and the community surrounding his family.
Moreno has amassed the largest warchest and has the most available cash, followed by Thomas and then Duplessis who got into fundraising mode only recently. Recent polling indicates that Moreno is already close to 50% with Thomas and Duplessis at 18 and 16% respectively. Hunter trailed at 5% and his fundraising had slowed as well.
Hunter’s campaign got off to a fast start due to support from lawyer and previous candidate for statewide office Caroline Fayard and restaurateur Dickie Brennan. Fayard put together a predominately white team of campaign professionals. Some Blacks began mumbling that Hunter was running a White campaign, sources said.
Hunter’s real lift came from a group of old school New Orleans political godfathers who were looking for a candidate whose vision for New Orleans’ future was consistent with theirs. That group included former Mayor Sidney Barthelemy, Constable Lambert Boissiere Jr., power broker Don Hubbard who led Black political organizations COUP and SOUL. These groups had stepped up to become the much-needed Black base for Hunter’s candidacy and a conduit for donations.
Yet the group became displeased with the campaign’s direction. As reported by NOLA.com, Hunter’s campaign team was predominately white. The only Black consultant in the group is Preston Edwards who previously worked for U.S. Senator John Kennedy and former gubernatorial candidate Hunter Lundy. Upset with Hunter’s low poll ranking and fundraising, the godfathers along with several godmothers decided to withdraw their endorsement of Hunter and move into Royce Duplessis’ camp. The group announced their change of heart at Dooky Chase earlier this week.
Their decision would be the icing on the cake for Hunter’s campaign. Without their support, Hunter had little choice but to withdraw his candidacy and begin working with Duplessis. This new duo will immediately put a strain on Oliver Thomas’ campaign. Duplessis will attempt to claw away Thomas’ supporters and dry up his fundraising. Duplessis election would be a big win for Hunter too if Duplessis embraces Hunter’s proposed ideas and programs. Duplessis could even name him police chief or criminal justice czar.
Hunter campaigned on the theme “Real Leadership. Real Solutions. A Safer New Orleans.”
Today’s announcement will conclude Hunter’s second run for city wide office. A St. Aug grad, former police officer and long-time judge at Criminal District Court, Hunter also ran unsuccessfully for District Attorney. He is an expert in criminal justice and has often presented innovative but workable solutions to the city’s crime problems. Hunter campaigned on the theme “Real Leadership. Real Solutions. A Safer New Orleans.” Even though Hunter will no longer be in the race, his idea and ideals deserved to be embraced.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
