New Orleans - After nearly a year of campaigning, State Rep. Austin Badon has decided to drop out of the New Orleans mayor’s race. Instead, he will run for the District E City Council seat.
The incumbent City Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis has announced plans to run for the at-large council seat.
Badon said the money and support is just not there in the mayor’s race. But the lawmaker is well known and popular in New Orleans East, the district he is panning for.
The latest campaign finance reports indicate money is not pouring in to the announced mayoral candidates' war chests. Reports indicate Ed Murray has $131,000 on hand, while Badon has $15,000. Candidate James Perry has a little over $6,400 on hand, according to records publicized by the state. Businessman Troy Henry had not announced when the figures were released.
Badon says he is not endorsing any other candidate at this point.
