Pubdate: Tue, 28 May 2002
Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Times-Picayune
Contact:  http://www.nola.com/t-p/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848
Author: Gwen Filosa

ORLEANS DA SEAT WIDE OPEN FOR CHANGE

Endorsements Key To Race, Researcher Says

Races for Orleans Parish district attorney have never lacked drama, 
but when five-term incumbent Harry Connick announced in March that he 
would step down from the office he redefined after taking it away 
from another icon in 1973, the political stage was set anew.

No incumbent. No seemingly unbeatable Connick. New Orleans is in for 
a brand-new district attorney for the first time in four decades, and 
months before anyone can even qualify to run, several people have 
launched campaigns for the wide-open seat.

"These are watersheds, politically," said Ray Teddlie, a media 
consultant working for Civil District Court Clerk Dale Atkins in her 
bid for district attorney. "It focuses the attention of all sectors 
of the community. They realize they have a lot at stake."

So far, the race also has drawn lawyer James Gray II, former U.S. 
Attorney Eddie Jordan and defense lawyer Gary Wainwright. Former 
judge and Connick rival Morris Reed said last week that he hadn't 
decided whether he would make a fourth run for the office.

Atkins showed interest in the race months back, but her campaign 
pushed back events in light of her younger sister's death on May 11. 
Davia Atkins, 38, died in cross fire at the St. Bernard public 
housing complex. Dale Atkins' team expects her to formally announce 
within weeks.

Qualifying is in August, with the primary on Oct. 5. While the 
politically attentive voter may know Jordan or remember Gray from his 
unsuccessful 1996 primary run, none of the candidates has anything 
close to the near universal name-recognition Connick enjoyed, 
observers say. The key to winning may come down to the right 
endorsement.

"That's certainly what happened with Ray Nagin," said Susan Howell, 
director of the Survey Research Center at the University of New 
Orleans, about the new mayor who seemed to come out of nowhere until 
big endorsements catapulted his profile.

"People are looking for cues," Howell said. "What side of the 
economic-social divide is this person on?"

In the coming months, candidates will be fighting for the backing of 
political action groups and as many heavyweights as possible. 
Endorsements from Nagin, Marc Morial or perhaps Jefferson Parish 
Sheriff Harry Lee would help define the field.

Another possible booster is, of course, Orleans Parish Sheriff 
Charles Foti Jr., a three-decade incumbent who sided with Atkins and 
others up for re-election last year as the "Justice Team."

Connick also will have an enormous interest in who succeeds him, 
spokeswoman Zully Jimenez said. He plans to invite candidates into 
his office to talk about procedures and daily operations before 
backing anyone, she said.

What's it like for a candidate in a race with no incumbent?

"It's easier to raise money," Gray deadpanned. "I do think we need a 
change. I think people have new expectations."

Gray, who endorsed Connick in his 1996 run-off with Reed, said he's 
confident voters will rally behind a candidate based on platform, not 
big-name endorsements. "By the time we get to election day, I think 
voters will have taken a close enough look that they can make the 
decision for themselves," he said.

Without an incumbent, the candidates have no veteran politician's 
record to attack. Instead, the talk will be of change and promises to 
lower crime rates and improve prevention programs. And if they make 
digs at Connick's past administration -- Gray's leaflets mention "a 
dismal conviction rate" -- there is no incumbent punching back.

Jordan, who announced his candidacy before Connick bowed out, is 
taking the fresh-canvas approach in his campaign.

"Mr. Connick's retirement offers us the unprecedented opportunity to 
reshape our criminal justice system, particularly the district 
attorney's office," Jordan said. "How do we make our city safer? How 
do we prevent crime? How do we improve our business climate?"

He has plans: work more closely with other law enforcement agencies, 
create a violent crime unit especially for the worst cases and offer 
more community service programs.

Jordan's competitors speak along the same lines, with talk of 
prioritizing cases and helping the mostly young staff of assistant 
district attorneys deal with staggering caseloads and marathon 
workweeks.

But the race won't lack for colorful debate as long as it has 
Wainwright, the brash defense lawyer who wants to decriminalize 
marijuana and is facing a possession charge himself. He believes 
prosecutors waste time and money going after charges of street-level 
drug dealing and simple possession. And he isn't looking for a single 
political endorsement or donation, he says, because he wants to 
remain independent.

"We do not need another DA elected by the politicians," he said.

Whether candidates will need help from politicians or not, they'll 
need plenty of cash. Insiders expect some of the leading candidates 
to spend at least $500,000 during the campaign.

One indicator for this race's price tag is a letter Jordan's campaign 
committee sent to would-be supporters this month. In it, he estimates 
he needs at least $75,000 for billboards, signs, mailings and 
consultants -- no mention of television ads yet.
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