Leadership for District A

By Michelle Krupa, The Times-Picayune
February 10, 2010, 5:00AM

Former District A Councilman Jay Batt has sought the seat four times since 2000, and he's landed in a runoff every time. So far, he's one for three, with a March 6 runoff on tap.

The Republican businessman entered his latest race as the favorite against three political newcomers. But after the votes were tallied Saturday night, lawyer Susan Guidry, a Democrat, led Batt 44 percent to 39 percent.

With his superior name-recognition and significant fundraising advantage, Batt was viewed as the de facto incumbent in the contest after the current representative, Shelley Midura, announced that she would not seek a second term. Midura, a Democrat who is supporting Guidry, upset Batt in 2006.

The fact that Batt finished second this time has sparked speculation in political circles that he is facing an uphill battle to reclaim his old seat.

Midura, who was making her first bid for public office in 2006, trailed Batt 40 percent to 28 percent in the primary. Midura won the runoff with 52 percent of the vote, ending the GOP's quarter-century hold on the seat, which represents Lakeview, Carrollton and other sections of Mid-City and Uptown.

Batt's first run for came in a special election in 2000 to fill an unexpired term, when he lost a runoff to School Board member Scott Shea. When the pair met again in 2002 for a full, four-year term, Batt won another runoff by 450 votes.

Frank Donze contributed to this report. Michelle Krupa can be reached at mkrupa@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3312. Frank Donze can be reached at fdonze@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3328.

Jay Batt attacks rival Susan Guidry in City Council race

By John Pope, The Times-Picayune
February 04, 2010, 9:14PM

Jay Batt, who is campaigning to regain his District A seat on the City Council, has launched an attack on rival Susan Guidry based on the actions of one of her key supporters, City Councilwoman Shelley Midura.

Using what might be considered twisted logic, Batt concludes that Guidry is soft on crime because of her association with Midura, who ousted Batt from the seat four years ago and is not running for re-election.

Midura last month voted against a compromise city budget that sent about $6.4 million to the district attorney's office, an increase of nearly $700,000 from last year, because she said she didn't trust the Nagin administration's revenue projections. In an earlier version of the budget that assumed lower revenues, Midura had approved a $200,000 reduction for the DA, from $5.8 million to $5.6 million.

Guidry "has publicly stated her unwavering support for action of the sitting council member from District A," Batt said in a prepared statement. "By linking her platform to the incumbent's record, she has endorsed every action of her mentor."

Firing back, Guidry in a prepared statement called Batt's criticism of her false: "He's clearly trying to mislead the voters. How can voters trust anything he says?"

Guidry also has accused Batt of having "a criminal record of his own he needs to answer for," claiming Batt was an "aider and abettor" to a bookie with whom he had placed bets. Batt testified at the man's trial, Guidry said, and the bookie was convicted and sentenced to 20 months in prison.

A lawyer working with the Batt campaign challenged the assertion that Batt has a criminal record. Batt's involvement in the case was limited to his role as a witness for federal prosecutors, adding that Batt was never a target of the inquiry. Batt has a letter from the U.S. attorney's office attesting to that fact, said the lawyer, who declined to be named to protect the identity of his client in the case.

"This is not a criminal record," the lawyer said. "He was never arrested, never charged, never pleaded guilty."

Also raising eyebrows in the District A race is a mailer in which Batt takes credit for co-authoring the ordinance that created the inspector general's office.

Actually, the ordinance that established the office was drafted in late 2006 by Midura. Batt and Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson had written one earlier that year that died on the vine.

In light of the recent banter, both candidates have tried to capitalize on their crime-fighting credentials.

Batt, a member of Crimestoppers' Board of Trustees, higlighted endorsements from District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Jiff Hingle. Meanwhile, Guidry touted her role as chairwoman of the Mid-City Security District, a board member of the Bayou St. John Neighborhood Security Patrol, an organizing member of the Mid-city Neighborhood Watch, block captain of the Mid-City Private Patrol and an organizer of Night Out Against Crime events.

Also in the race ror the District A seat are Virginia Blanque, a Republican, and Fred Robertson, an independent.

Keep up to date by signing up to receive campaign updates!