NEW ORLEANS — Last week’s indictment of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s former police bodyguard – accused of collecting city pay for what federal prosecutors describe as romantic episodes with the mayor – is just the latest in a string of high-profile challenges for the second-term mayor.
With a federal grand jury now bearing down on other activities by Cantrell, a pattern seems to be emerging of a wounded and embattled leader, yet a leader still in control of city government.
“What is extraordinary here is Mayor Cantrell's problems, not only the magnitude of them in terms of the number, and the significance and real threats to her legacy, even to her remaining in office, they're all of her own making,” said Clancy Dubos, WWL Louisiana political analyst.
Among the first controversies to blow up into public view was the revelation in November 2022 that Cantrell racked up nearly $30,000 in first-class travel upgrades for a series of out-of-country trips. Despite a clear policy that those extra expenses can’t be passed on to taxpayers, Cantrell was initially defiant and tried to defend her position.
“All expenses incurred doing business on behalf of the city of New Orleans will not be reimbursed to the city of New Orleans. One thing is clear: I do my job,” she said.
But after a ruling by the city’s CAO Gilbert Montano, Cantrell backed down and agreed to reimburse the city.
“Press the reset button as much as you can. Admit missteps first thing. Demonstrate accountability,” said Xavier University professor and pollster Silas Lee.
But the travel controversy was just the first in a long list of second-term setbacks for Cantrell since her re-election in 2021 and the collapse of a recall petition more than a year later.
When the City Council learned the mayor was living at the city's hospitality suite in the Upper Pontalba apartments, the body first compromised, passing an ordinance banning overnight stays. But within a year, Cantrell was caught staying overnight, and the council voted to ban the mayor entirely and put the apartment up for rent.
“These are all self-inflicted, unforced errors. That’s putting it mildly,” Clancy Dubos, WWL political analyst.
The list goes on.
Cantrell's signature non-profit organization, Forward Together New Orleans, was forced to disband and repay the city more than $1 million.
A legal agreement Cantrell made to perpetuate the 110-year-old Wisner Trust and prevent the city from collecting the full $10 million-a-year payout was reversed after the City Council filed a lawsuit.
During the same period, a string of hand-picked Cantrell appointments ended in disaster.
Kyshun Webster resigned after a controversial period as head of the city's juvenile lockup. Gregory Joseph was removed by the City Council as her spokesperson because of ethics violations. Tyrell Morris, the city’s 9-1-1 director, was forced to resign and is now facing criminal charges after allegedly altering documents to avoid blood alcohol tests when he got into an accident while driving a city vehicle.
The setbacks have taken a toll on Cantrell’s once-lofty approval ratings.
During her first term, polls showed Cantrell’s approval among residents topping 60 percent, but the most recent poll shows that number has plummeted to about 30 percent.
The characteristics that voters once admired about the mayor – a blunt toughness and firm leadership – now seem to be working against her as she deals with her own controversies. Her commanding posture during a string of first-term crises – a crippling cyber-attack, Hurricane Ida, the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel and the COVID pandemic – now seems to work against her as she tries to beat back her own crises.
Lee, who did polling work for Cantrell during her first term, said the accumulation of controversies takes a toll.
“It's a constant battle of distraction while at the same time trying to manage the governance of the city.” Lee said.
Dubos said Cantrell has often stoked the flames of her own fires by digging in her heels and making matters worse.
“She not only brought these problems and challenges on herself, but she has made them worse by doubling and tripling down,” Dubos said.
Dubos said the mayor's combative approach has been especially visible in the troubles surrounding her former NOPD bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie.
Vappie was indicted July 19 on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of lying to the federal authorities. He is accused of taking city pay while carrying on a romantic relationship with the Cantrell, then lying about the relationship when asked by FBI agents.
But long before Vappie was criminally charged, he was reprimanded for the same payroll irregularities and removed from Cantrell's security team. After the reprimand, however, Cantrell re-instated Vappie, despite the NOPD getting blasted by the federal judge overseeing the NOPD’s 12-year consent decree for conducting a shoddy internal investigation in the case.
After Vappie was back on the mayor’s security team, he and Cantrell were photographed on April 7 on the balcony of the Tableau restaurant overlooking Jackson Square. That photo became the subject of a new complaint against Vappie and he was once again removed from the security detail.
“It's astounding to me that anyone in political office faced with these kinds of self-inflicted wounds or unforced errors would just say I'm going to do it again, and again,” Dubos said.
Cantrell drew even more attention to the Tableau controversy when she filed a protective order against her one-time Pontalba neighbor Anne Breaud, who shot the pictures from her own balcony.
The mayor's petition was quickly dismissed and she was ordered to pay Breaud's attorney's fees, yet the city issued a press release stating “the objective was achieved” by bringing attention to perceived threats to the mayor.
“It's about as bad as you can do in court,” Dubos said. “To claim victory is laughable.”
Cantrell has curtailed her media availability dramatically amid all the recent drama. Long gone are her free-for-all press conferences. Former Mayor Marc Morial said the ongoing federal probe puts her in a tough position.
“It's difficult because it becomes difficult for you to keep the public focused on your agenda versus the latest is an investigation or an inquiry,” Morial.
But there's still a city to run and Council member Eugene Green, who has often been supportive of Cantrell, said he was with the mayor at an event the day after Vappie was indicted. And she didn't miss a beat.
“She gave a very vigorous and enthusiastic supportive address to the youth who were present,” Green said.
Cantrell declined requests to be interviewed for this story. While she previously said she will cooperate with any ongoing investigations, she has not fielded any questions since Vappie was indicted.
“Bottom line it impacts her legacy,” Lee said. “Because the legacy is written and defined by everyday actions.”
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