New Orleans - It seems like it has taken forever, but tonight the race for mayor of New Orleans is officially underway.
Seven candidates squared off in front of the Greater New Orleans Afterschool Partnership today, and there's a new candidate in the mix. They came from all corners of the city - seven candidates who want to run a city in need of transparency in government.
In an era when public records are supposed to be public, most are confined to hard drives. These candidates say they are willing to change.
Rob Couhig says he believes records are often made burdensome to retrieve on purpose. James Perry says transparency is fundamental, Nadine Ramsey promises public review of all her records, and Troy Henry and John Georges all promise public review of all their records. Sen. Ed Murray said all citizens have a right to the information in a timely manner.
There are seven candidates in the race right now, including a former education reformer who just jumped in. Leslie Jacobs says she has a proven record as an education reformer instrumental in bringing charter school reform to New Orleans.
The candidates all pledge to conduct a national campaign for a replacement for NOPD Chief Warren Riley if elected, with Perry promising to consider candidates from New Orleans, as well as elsewhere.
With trips by the current mayor a concern for some, these candidates say they will be more open about their travel, if elected. Couhig says he will pay for his own travel.
The forum was sponsored by the GNO Afterschool Partnership, which got each candidate to commit to making improvements in the way young people are treated in the city and dealt with after they're put into detention.
