New Orleans in Black and White
By Jeff Crouere

New Orleans really is a “chocolate city,” to use Mayor C. Ray Nagin’s terminology. Population statistics show that once again, African-Americans easily outnumber whites in New Orleans, despite the displacement of so many voters due to Katrina. These figures are clearly reflected in the recent election, in which all African-American candidates, except for one, defeated their white opponents.

Among those African-American winners was the most high profile candidate on the ballot, Ray Nagin. The voters of New Orleans, both those displaced by Katrina and those still living in the city, decided to give the most controversial mayor in New Orleans history another four year term in office. The Mayor defeated Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu by a 52-48% margin. Nagin overcame adversity, criticism for his lack of hurricane preparedness, the woeful response post Katrina and his infamous MLK, Jr. Day remarks, in which he not only said New Orleans would always be a “chocolate city,” but he also criticized Uptown residents, the war in Iraq and said God was sending hurricanes to punish this country.

Nagin won re-election for a number of reasons. Most importantly, he peaked at the right time, which I predicted in a column several days before the election (Bayoubuzz May 17 2006). For the last week of the campaign, Nagin surged while Landrieu faltered. Nagin received key endorsements from former candidates Virginia Boulet and Rob Couhig and used them effectively in his advertising campaign. Election results show that Nagin held his base of black voters, receiving 80%, while expanding his support among white voters to over 20%. Incredibly, in the primary election, Nagin only garnered 7% of the white vote, compared to 84% four years ago.

Why did so many white voters return to Nagin, allowing him to triple his showing among this key segment of the electorate in the run-off? The explanation for the increased white vote and to the election itself was Rob Couhig’s endorsement of Nagin. Couhig, a Republican businessman who ran a strong 4th in the primary, gave Republicans and conservative white voters the security they needed to vote for Nagin. Republicans clearly saw that President Bush favored Nagin to win, as evidenced by his warm embrace of the Mayor during his visits to New Orleans. In addition, many Republicans were uncomfortable voting for a Landrieu and continuing what they saw as a political dynasty. Mitch’s father was mayor, his sister is U.S. Senator, another sister is a judge and his aunt is President of the School Board. It was all too much for many GOP voters. On Friday before the election, I spoke to a meeting of Republican women in New Orleans. Many were wearing buttons that read, “Another vanilla sister for our chocolate brother.” At that meeting, there was a strong sentiment that Nagin was the better alternative and that “President Bush supports him.” At that point, I knew Landrieu was history.

So, conservatives and Republicans, mostly white or vanilla voters, took another chance on the unpredictable, sometimes crazy, Mayor Wonka. Unfortunately for New Orleans, the rest of the nation may have a hard time understanding the unusual decision. The major thing New Orleans needs now is investment from the federal government, the business community both in the region and throughout the nation, private individuals and non-profit organizations. Since Katrina, Nagin had made a horrible impression with his slang; shoot from the hip and even racist talk. Instead of convening a summit with business leaders and community activists, Nagin has been rallying with Reverend Jesse Jackson and meeting with "Minister" Louis Farrakhan. Quite frankly, many people from outside New Orleans, as well as the 48% who voted for Landrieu, may view voters in the Crescent City as downright foolish to elect a man who inspires such little confidence.

Nagin claims to be a business leader, but has precious few economic development accomplishments he can tout. The economy and population of New Orleans, even before Katrina, contracted during his term. His business experience was that he operated a regulated monopoly, Cox Cable, but few customers were especially happy with their cable service. Now, many business leaders say they will leave New Orleans, having little faith that Nagin can restore economic good times.

Nagin is known as a "lone ranger" who does not work with his city council, legislative delegation or the governor on issues that will move the city forward. He issued an evacuation plan without talking to leaders in surrounding communities. He outlined a legislative agenda without consulting with legislators. He offered a plan to turn New Orleans into a “Las Vegas South” without talking to anyone. So, his “big ideas,” such as selling the airport, moving City Hall, creating a gambling strip, among others, always met with failure.

In the past, Nagin has had an aversion to consensus building. Right now, unity and cohesion are needed more than ever for New Orleans, but Nagin has had a hard time fostering unity even among his administration, where there has been tremendous turnover in his first term. Nagin has burned through multiple Chief Administrative Officers, economic development directors, legislative directors and press secretaries. He was also the person who initially hired the controversial, wacky, Kimberly Williamson Butler, who, as Clerk of Court, was jailed for her failure to follow court orders and then after three days of incarceration, compared herself to Nelson Mandela.

Nagin’s victory, with the help of GOP voters, will probably accelerate “white flight” from New Orleans, as the “chocolate city” will become an even darker flavor. Many people say they are leaving because they have no trust in Nagin or his ability to revive New Orleans and are worried that Hizzoner will continue to make unscripted and embarrassing comments like “chocolate city.” Defeating Nagin would have shown the rest of the country that voters disapproved of the way the Mayor acted and led the city during and after the Katrina crisis. It would also have been a signal that the city is finally changing.

Well, New Orleans is not changing; instead it is politics as usual. New Orleans is still the “chocolate city,” Nagin is still the nutty buddy mayor and a bunch of vanilla Republicans provided the twist to make it happen. Only in New Orleans could this type of scenario occur. Let’s hope that the Republicans who took a chance on Nagin do not live to regret their controversial decision. God help New Orleans, for who knows what the next four years will bring.  

Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA, and the host of a Louisiana-based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 pm on Fridays and 10:00 pm on Sundays on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and from noon until 2 pm onweekdays on several Louisiana stations. For more information, visit his Web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com.

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