Allan Katz and Danae Columbus
State Representative Helena Moreno has turned out to be a savvy lobbyist for issues important to women and families and easily able to cross the political aisles to get the votes she needs. That’s the sentiment of the Legislative Agenda for Women (LAW), a coalition of organizations including the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Independent Women’s Organization, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the National Organization for Women, who hosted a reception in her honor, courtesy of attorney Pamela Gibbs.
Louisiana has traditionally ranked close to last in terms of the number of women in the state House and Senate. The metro area is lucky to have Moreno and the powerful Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, along with newly elected Rep. Ebony Woodruff, a Democrat from Harvey, and Republican Julie Stokes from Kenner.
LAW representative Julie Schwam Harris said that their major issues in this past session included Equal Pay for Women, Medicaid Expansion and Sex Education. Moreno — working with Senator J.P. Morrell — was successful in passing several bills to prevent domestic violence and protect survivors. Moreno is also a supporter of reproductive rights for women and against housing discrimination.
Moreno uses her skills as a former television reporter to craft effective arguments that lead to legislative compromises, often the key to getting anything passed. “It takes leadership from women like Helena Moreno and Karen Carter-Peterson to get the job done,” said Schwam-Harris.
Moreno also had the opportunity to welcome former President Bill Clinton to her home during his recent visit to New Orleans, she announced on social media. Moreno has relationships with both Clintons from her Washington D.C. days prior to moving to New Orleans, which just might come in handy next year.
ALLIANCE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT FORUMS HELP FOCUS VOTER CHOICES
This week the Alliance for Good Government held two forums at which they moved this year’s political dialogue down the continuum toward the November 4 elections. Lionel “Lon” Burns got his last chance to beat on DA Leon Cannizzaro before the Louisiana Supreme Court removed him from the race because of tax issues. It continues to amaze us that someone would qualify for office and not have their taxes in order. Burns shocked and amazed the audience by suggesting that assistant district attorneys be allowed to wear Saints jerseys to work on Friday and enjoy chicken wings and tacos as special treats on other days during the week.
The case of embattled Juvenile Court Judge Yolanda King is also unusual. We only knew King previously from media reports. In recent forums, King has showed her passion for juvenile justice and knowledge of the issues, but there is no way King will get reelected. In that race, the Alliance chose Niki Roberts, who heads the DA’s juvenile division, and is being mentored by Cannizzaro and former judge and city council president Eddie Sapir. While we have not seen Sapir on the campaign trail, we know he is giving wise guidance to Roberts who finished high school after the birth of her child, as did at least one other candidate in that race, Cynthia Samuel.
The Alliance endorsed all the incumbents except for long-time Criminal Court Judge Frank Marullo — caught on tape conversing at Mandina’s with opposing candidate Marie Williams, who also has no chance to win. The ensuing media coverage has been a big boost for candidate Graham Bosworth, who received the Alliance’s endorsement. But don’t count Marullo out just yet.
Since we’ve been close observers of politics for many decades, we say the conversation between Marullo and Williams was rather tame. But the FBI could think differently. If readers believe politics is not a hard-ball game with lots of knocks, they are sorely mistaken.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TAKING OFF THE GLOVES HEADED TOWARD MID-TERM ELECTIONS
With 40 days until the mid-term elections, Democrats and Republicans are pulling out all the stops as they approach the November elections. Time Magazine reports today that the GOP is calling Democrats “the Party of the Rich” in a turn-around from what the “Dems” did to them in 2012. We love Republicans partially because they are rich and own businesses which can hire middle-class working folk who need to support their families.
The Wall Street Journal reported Democrats have been raising cash fast and furiously what has allowed them to stay competitive in Senate races where many other factors favor Republican candidates. Democratic Super PACs, like the ones Republicans have had for years, are pouring more money into TV commercials in nine states with hotly contested senate races, according to the non-partisan Wesleyan Media Project.
During the August 29 to September 11 window, Louisiana’s senate race ranks fourth in Democratic PAC spending and fifth in Republic PAC spending. Local television stations like WWL are clearly the big winners here.
Democrats are also concentrating on niche constituencies and utilizing very targeted messaging. They are working older voters, who vote consistently and traditionally are a large portion of the mid-term electorate, with selected messages on Medicare and Social Security.
Will all this activity help save Senator Mary Landrieu? We read polls every day and they are always changing. When Landrieu was endorsed earlier this week by Congressman Cedric Richmond, who is being opposed by a Landrieu black sheep cousin, she chose the Pontchartrain Park Senior Center, which was packed with a large, appreciative, mostly African-American audience. Only five more weeks to go.
Allan Katz spent 25 years as a political reporter and columnist at The Times-Picayune, and is now editor of the Kenner Star and host of several televsion programs, including the Louisiana Newsmaker on Cox Cable. Danae Columbus is executive producer of Louisiana Newsmaker, and has had a 30-year career in public relations, including stints at City Hall and the Dock Board. They both currently work for the Orleans Parish School Board. Among the recent candidates who have been represented by their public relations firm are City council members Stacy Head and Jared Brossett, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, former Sheriff Charles Foti and former Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.
