Forman considers joining the fray
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
By Frank Donze
Staff writer
Handing New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin perhaps his most formidable political challenge to date, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu has decided to place his name on the April ballot, a key Landrieu supporter said Monday.
Landrieu
could not be reached for comment.
But an ally who requested anonymity said Landrieu
informed key supporters across the city and state during
the weekend of his intention to run for mayor.
Another potential candidate, Audubon Institute Chief
Executive Ron Forman, said Landrieu told him the same
thing Monday.
While Landrieu is expected to publicly announce his
candidacy in a written statement this week, a source
said a formal declaration with a kickoff event and a
campaign speech likely won't come until after the
Legislature's special session set for Feb. 6-17.
The mayoral primary has been scheduled for April 22,
with a runoff, if needed, on May 20. Qualifying for the
race will be March 1-3.
Before Hurricane Katrina, Nagin was considered a virtual
lock to win a second four-year term.
But the city's slow recovery from the disaster and
Nagin's missteps -- most notably his notorious
"chocolate city" speech on Martin Luther King Day --
have made him highly vulnerable in the eyes of many
political handicappers.
Several mayoral candidates already are campaigning, but,
aside from Nagin, none appears able to match Landrieu's
name recognition or his ability to raise money.
One potential candidate who might compete with Landrieu
in the fund-raising department is Forman, who met Monday
with Landrieu.
"Based on my conversation with him today, I would say he
is going to run," said Forman, who added that he
continues to seriously consider the contest.
Forman said Landrieu indicated that he has given his
financial backers the green light to begin raising money
for the mayoral campaign and has begun meeting with
individual backers.
For his part, Forman said he is still listening to
business and community leaders who are encouraging him
to run and said he is likely to make his decision in the
next two weeks.
During the weekend, Forman said supporters provided him
with commitments for more than $700,000 in
contributions.
Forman said he believes he would have little difficulty
raising $1.5 million if he decides to run.
"For now, I will continue to meet with the black and
white leadership to see if we can put together a
coalition to rebuild this city," Forman said.
Many New Orleans business leaders have said privately
that they have lost confidence in Nagin's ability to
lead a Katrina recovery effort expected to last several
years.
One Forman supporter speculated Monday that now that
Landrieu has shown his hand, Forman, who has built the
Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium of the Americas into two of
the city's most popular attractions, may opt out of the
race.
"Ron loves his job," the supporter said. "He makes great
money and he has low stress compared to being mayor.
It's a good gig."
In pre-Katrina New Orleans, Landrieu and Forman, both of
whom are white, would have been considered long-shot
challengers against Nagin, the black incumbent who has
an estimated $1 million-plus in his campaign war chest.
Most of the city's African-American residents, who made
up nearly 70 percent of the electorate before the storm,
have been scattered across the nation.
Many of the evacuees likely will have to vote absentee
by mail, raising questions about turnout.
Landrieu, a longtime former member of the state House of
Representatives, is the son of former Mayor Moon
Landrieu and the brother of Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary
Landrieu.
He ran for mayor of New Orleans in 1994, finishing third
in the primary behind lawyer Donald Mintz and then-state
Sen. Marc Morial, who went on to serve two terms.
Landrieu, who cruised to a primary victory in the 2003
lieutenant governor's race, has been considered a
potential gubernatorial candidate next year.
Already in the mayor's race are former City Councilwoman
Peggy Wilson, the highest profile challenger to Nagin,
and lesser-known candidates former state Rep. Leo
Watermeier and radio personality James Arey, both of
whom have been running for more than a year.
Investment banker Mike Hammer, a political newcomer, and
lawyer Bill Wessel, a close confidant of former District
Attorney Harry Connick Sr., entered the race last week.
. . . . . . .
Frank Donze can be reached at fdonze@timespicayune.com
or (504) 826-3328.