NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans’ mayoral race won’t kick off for 11 months, but at least one city council member is lacing her sneakers.
In August, New Orleans City Council President and former legislator Helena Moreno filed campaign paperwork with the Louisiana Ethics Administration.
“She has name recognition, resources visibility in the community,” Dr. Silas Lee said. “All that enhances her opportunity to win.”
Moreno hasn’t formally announced plans to run, but judging by LinkedIn, she appears to be hiring a team.
This month, her former chief of staff updated his job title to Senior Advisor for Helena Moreno for the Future. That is the same slogan appearing on the paperwork filed.
For now, he told WWL Louisiana Moreno won’t provide a comment, but said she will, “have an exciting announcement in the future.”
Veteran pollster Dr. Silas Lee calls this the speed dating period.
“A lot of candidates will test the waters, to see what reaction they get from voters,” Dr. Lee said. “We won’t know until qualifying.
According to Lee, you can’t run on charisma alone. Qualifying comes with a $750 price tag.
“That’s why we’ll see her name and other names floated,” Dr. Lee said.
Those other names may include City Council Member Oliver Thomas and State Senator Royce Duplessis.
On Friday, Council Member Thomas told WWL Louisiana he hasn’t made a decision yet, and State Senator Duplessis didn’t comment.
“Anytime you have opposition you have to take it seriously,” Dr. Lee said.
All we know for sure right now is that anyone could cross the finish line next October.
When it comes to electability, Moreno has a promising track record.
In 2017, she ran on a platform of creating economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, gender equality, and climate change.
Four years later, she won reelection by a landslide, getting 85 percent of the votes.
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