Before we head into the new year, it’s important to look back at 2023 and the local events that will continue to affect the political climate. This was an active year in city politics, and included the appointment of a new police chief, a failed recall, a low turnout election, investigations into the mayor’s travel and use of city property, skirmishes with the City Council, and battles with the U.S. Justice Department over a consent decree.

The year began with a vacancy in the office of superintendent of police, caused by the retirement of the previous chief, Shaun Ferguson. This vacancy was unique because it was the first one to fall under a recent voter-approved change in the city charter, giving the City Council confirmation powers over any department heads. Captain Michelle Woodfork was appointed interim chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and was considered by city hall insiders as the favorite to get the permanent job. 

The City Council insisted on a national search and a transparent hiring process. After the process was completed, the mayor surprised many observers by nominating former Oakland police chief Anne Kirkpatrick. After a hearing before the City Council in October, Kirkpatrick was confirmed by a vote of 6 to 1, with Councilmember Oliver Thomas the only no vote. 

In the first part of the year, we also saw a recall campaign against the mayor, organized by former city hall staffer Eileen Carter and civic activist Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste, and funded by Walk-On’s restaurant chain owner Rick Farrell and other business leaders. 

The recall failed because it was run by volunteers rather than professional campaign managers, and also because the majority of the New Orleans electorate has become apathetic and are currently not interested in politics. This disinterest was displayed during the statewide elections that took place in October and November. Turnout in Orleans Parish was 27% in the primary and 15% in the runoff.

Historically, most city councils tend to assert more power during the final two years of a term-limited mayor’s second term. This council had already had a skirmish with the mayor, threatening to dock her pay if she did not repay the treasury for first-class airplane upgrades paid for with taxpayer money. She eventually repaid the city for the first-class tickets. 

The most recent conflict between the mayor and City Council was over the use of a city-owned apartment in the Pontalba Building in the French Quarter. The council takes the position that the apartment can only be used for official purposes such as entertaining visiting foreign dignitaries. Cantrell takes the position that the apartment can be used at the personal discretion of the mayor.

In August the City Council voted to remove the apartment from the control of the mayor’s office. The mayor vetoed the ordinance, but the council overrode the veto by a vote of 5 to 2. Council members Helena Moreno, JP Morrell, Joe Giarrusso, Lesli Harris, and Freddie King voted in favor, and Oliver Thomas and Eugene Green voted against. This vote count breaks down along the lines of who is presently allied with the mayor, currently only Thomas and Green. 

Cantrell has also has been in conflict with the U.S. Justice Department over a long-standing consent decree with the NOPD. Cantrell has been fighting to release the city from the consent decree, but the Justice Department has refused, and the federal judge overseeing the case has sided with the Justice Department for now.

The consent decree monitors have written public court filings critical of the operations within the public integrity bureau. They took issue with an internal investigation into possible payroll fraud by one of Cantrell’s police detail officers, writing the investigation was not thorough. The Justice Department has authority to initiate its own investigations. 

Both the mayor and her detail officer, Jeffrey Vappie, have retained the services of high-profile criminal defense attorneys. The Department of Justice does not comment on ongoing investigations, and Cantrell has declined to answer questions as to whether or not she has received a target letter. 

Regardless of whether the Justice Department expands investigations into city hall, or they insist on keeping the consent decree in place, conflicts between Cantrell and the Justice Department likely will set the stage for new skirmishes in the new year.

Related Stories

Most Read Stories

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Creative Commons License

Robert Collins is a professor of Urban Studies and Public Policy at Dillard, where he holds the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Professorship. He previously held positions as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences...