District 91 candidates Carling Dinkler, Mandie Landry and Robert McKnight. Not pictured: John Perry III. (via candidate websites)
District 98 candidates Evan Bergeron, Aimee Adatto Freeman, Ravi Sangisetty, Kea Sherman and Carlos Zervigon. Not pictured: Max Hayden Chiz and Marion “Penny” Freistadt. (via official websites)
Four more candidates joined the hunt for two open seats representing Uptown New Orleans in the Louisiana state House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total to 11 contenders for the two positions.
In District 91 — which runs from the Irish Channel through Milan and Broadmoor into Hollygrove and is currently represented by Rep. Walt Leger — John Perry III qualified to run on Tuesday afternoon.
The current field for that seat now stands at four Democrats:
- District 91: Carling Dinkler (vice president of an investment firm), attorney Mandie Landry, attorney Robert McKnight of the Orleans Parish public defenders office and John Perry III.
District 98 — which expands from the Riverbend through Audubon, the university area, Carrollton and Freret and is represented by Rep. Neil Abramson — drew three new candidates late Tuesday, Marion “Penny” Freistadt, Max Hayden Chiz and Carlos Zervigon.
Chiz does not yet appear to have an online presence for his campaign. Freistadt’s campaign website offers little biographical information, but pledges to be the race’s “climate candidate” and promotes policies to create a full transition to clean energy. Zervigon, grandson of civil-rights activist Rosa Keller, is a sculptor and former teacher who has been active in the charter-school movement, serving as the founding board chair of Audubon Charter School and president of the Ben Franklin High School board, his website says.
A total of seven candidates, all Democrats, are now seeking that seat:
- District 98: attorney Evan Bergeron, Chiz, business consultant Aimee Adatto Freeman, Freistadt, attorney Ravi Sangisetty, attorney Kea Sherman and Zervigon.
Several other seats representing Uptown remained uncontested late Wednesday morning:
- House District 93, which includes the Garden District and Central City: incumbent Royce Duplessis (D).
- Senate District 5, representing most of Uptown: incumbent Karen Carter Peterson (D).
- Senate District 9, based in Metairie but including parts of Audubon and the university area: state Rep. Cameron Henry (R).
The lineup for other seats in the New Orleans delegation remained mostly stable by Wednesday morning. Eugene Green and Durrell Laurent joined the open field for House District 97 in Mid-City and Gentilly, and Adonis Expose’ and Candace Newell qualified to run for open House District 99.
- Senate District 3, being vacated by Sen. J.P. Morrell: current District 100 state Rep. John Bagneris (D) and current District 97 state Rep. Joe Bouie (D).
- House District 94, which covers Lakeview and part of Mid-City: incumbent Rep. Stephanie Hilferty (R), Tammy Savoie (D), Kirk Williamson (R).
- House District 97, being vacated by Bouie, which covers Mid-City and Gentilly: Ethan Ashley (D), Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste (Independent), Eugene Green (D), Durrell Laurent (D), and Matthew Willard (D).
- House District 100, being vacated by Bagneris: Jason Hughes (D) and Anthony Jackson Jr (D).
- Senate District 4, currently held by Sen. Wesley Bishop: current District 99 state Rep. Jimmy Harris (D).
- House District 99: Adonis C. Expose’ (D), Candace Newell (D), Jameel Shaheer (D).
- Senate District 1: incumbent Sen. Sharon Hewitt (D).
- Senate District 7: incumbent Sen. Troy Carter (D).
