Legislators In Races Around State

EXCERPT FROM LAPOLITICS WEEKLY

In House District 97, left vacant by New Orleans Councilman Jared Brossett, only two candidates qualified. (T)wo Democrats with roots in old-school Crescent City politics emerged: Eugene Green, who once worked for disgraced former Congressman Bill Jefferson and former Mayor Marc Morial, and Joe Bouie, who challenged and lost to Brossett in the council elections held earlier this year. Given Bouie's recent loss in a council district that takes up a large part of the House district, sources give Green the early edge. Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans, is also said to be helping Green, who lost his own at-large council race against an incumbent in February but supposedly managed to build strong coalitions in the process.

Rep. Alfred Williams, D-Baton Rouge, is facing two challengers in the 19th Judicial District. With only one opponent, Rep. Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge, will have his race decided for the city's Family Court after the November vote. And in Rapides Parish, Rep. Chris Hazel, R-Ball, is running for district attorney in a three-way field that should produce a runoff between either him, former Rep. Chris Roy or Pineville City Judge Phillip Terrell.

Rep. Patrick Williams, D-Shreveport, is running against six others for mayor of Shreveport. With his fundraising base partly in Baton Rouge and supposedly thriving, local elected officials expect him to at least make the runoff. How much Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover gets involved remains to be seen. Connections to Glover can be made to the candidacies of Shreveport Councilman Sam Jenkins and Ollie Tyler, the former Caddo school superintendent and interim state education superintendent. Also worth watching is whether Sen. Greg Tarver, D-Shreveport, steps into the race as an influencer. He heads up a political machine that's at odds with Glover and he could very well pick his own candidate. The animosity between the two has apparently led to speculation that Glover may stand toe-to-toe next year to challenge Tarver's re-election to the Senate.