New Orleans (mayor) elections, 2010

New Orleans (mayor) elections, 2010
Election name	2010 New Orleans mayoral election
Country	United States
Type	Presidential
Previous election	2006 New Orleans mayoral election
Previous year	2006
Next election	2014 New Orleans mayoral election
Next year	2014
Election date	February 6, 2010; March 6, 2010 (runoff)
Nominee1	Mitch Landrieu
Party1	Democratic Party
Popular vote1	64,097
Percentage1	66.10%
Nominee2	G. B. Smith
Party2	Democratic Party
Popular vote2	32,850
Percentage2	33.90%
Title	Mayor
Before election	Ray Nagin
Before party	Democratic Party
After election	Mitch Landrieu
After party	Democratic Party

New Orleans (mayor) elections, 2010

The 2010 New Orleans mayoral campaign culminated in a two-round contest that elected Mitch Landrieu as mayor. The election occurred amid post‑Hurricane Katrina reconstruction debates, competing visions for recovery advanced by candidates with backgrounds in Louisiana politics, public administration, and civic organizations. Turnout, policy disputes, and endorsements from local and national figures shaped the outcome.

Background

The election followed the controversial administration of Ray Nagin, whose tenure was defined by responses to Hurricane Katrina, interactions with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and legal scrutiny that later culminated in federal charges. New Orleans voters weighed issues involving rebuilding of the French Quarter, Lower Ninth Ward, flood protection tied to the Army Corps of Engineers, and coordination with the Louisiana Recovery Authority. The political environment featured prominent actors such as the New Orleans City Council, the Louisiana Democratic Party, advocacy groups like the Greater New Orleans, Inc., and media outlets including the Times-Picayune and local affiliates of WDSU-TV and WWL-TV.

Demographic shifts after Katrina altered electoral dynamics: displacement impacted neighborhoods like Mid‑City, Central City, and the Bywater, while debates over school reform involved Recovery School District and New Orleans Public Schools. National figures such as President Barack Obama and officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) monitored progress, influencing local politics.

Candidates

The race featured a crowded primary field reflecting New Orleans' political spectrum. Leading contenders included:

- Mitch Landrieu, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and scion of the Landrieu family (including Mary Landrieu and Moon Landrieu), with experience in the Louisiana House of Representatives and city ties. Endorsements came from figures in the Democratic Party and civic institutions. - G. B. Smith (Gordon B. Smith), head of a local New Orleans business and community advocate, known for appeals to neighborhoods across the city. - John Georges, businessman linked to Georges Enterprises and owner of WWL-TV's competition, drawing on private‑sector credentials and regional networks. - Oliver Thomas, a city councilman with a base in Pontchartrain Park and ties to community organizations. - Ron Forman, head of the Audubon Nature Institute and former New Orleans nonprofit executive, focusing on tourism and environmental concerns. - Arnie Fielkow, former president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association and labor leader, emphasizing public safety and labor issues. - Several lesser‑known candidates included activists, entrepreneurs, and former municipal employees who filed under New Orleans election law.

Candidates attracted endorsements from entities such as the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), labor unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and local business groups.

Campaign

The campaign centered on themes of infrastructure, levee construction overseen by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, school consolidation involving the State of Louisiana, economic development with partners like Entergy New Orleans, and housing recovery coordinated with HUD and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Debates, forums at venues such as Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisiana, and coverage by the Times-Picayune shaped public discourse.

Issues included police reform linked to the FBI and consent decree discussions, crime statistics reported by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), and tourism recovery tied to events like Mardi Gras and conventions hosted at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Candidates sparred over partnerships with state leaders including Bobby Jindal and national figures such as Jesse Jackson, while local powerbrokers like the Regular Democratic Organization's remnants and family political machines influenced precinct-level organizing.

Campaign finance involved donations from developers connected to projects in the Central Business District and contributions tracked by advocacy groups. Advertising on stations like WWL-TV and WUPL plus newspapers including the Gambit and The Advocate (Baton Rouge) amplified messaging. Endorsements from clergy, business leaders, and media editorial boards factored into voter decisions.

Election Results

The first round, held February 6, 2010, produced a runoff between Mitch Landrieu and G. B. Smith after no candidate surpassed 50%. Landrieu led with plurality support across diverse wards including Ward 1 and Ward 10, showing strength in neighborhoods like Uptown and the Garden District. Smith consolidated backing in other precincts, including parts of New Orleans East.

The runoff on March 6, 2010, resulted in a decisive victory for Mitch Landrieu, who secured roughly two‑thirds of the vote, carrying a majority of city precincts and receiving endorsements from several eliminated candidates such as Ron Forman and John Georges' later public positions. Voter turnout was modest, reflecting post‑Katrina demographic changes and comparisons to prior contests like the 2006 mayoral election between Ray Nagin and Carroll J. Gantt.

Analyses from political commentators at the Times-Picayune and Gambit highlighted Landrieu's coalition-building across racial and economic lines, his appeal to civic institutions, and campaign organization influenced by operatives experienced in statewide contests.

Aftermath and Impact

Mitch Landrieu's administration prioritized initiatives involving levee protection coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, coordinated demolition and rehabilitation in the Lower Ninth Ward, and partnerships with the Recovery School District on education policy. His tenure intersected with federal programs administered by HUD and debates with state leadership including Bobby Jindal. Policy directions affected relations with labor groups like AFSCME and development interests in the Central Business District and French Quarter.

The election reshaped local political alignments: the Landrieu victory consolidated influence for the Landrieu family in regional politics and affected future contests including the 2014 New Orleans mayoral election and U.S. Senate related campaigns. Media coverage and scholarly assessments in journals focusing on urban studies, disaster recovery, and Southern politics examined the 2010 election's role in post‑Katrina governance, civic reconstruction, and the evolution of political coalitions in Louisiana.

Category:2010 elections in the United States Category:New Orleans mayoral elections