New Orleans, La. -- City officials expressed shock over the guilty plea by District "E" City Councilman Jon Johnson Wednesday morning in federal court.
"Very sad day for the city of New Orleans and another difficult black eye. Corruption has no place in city government," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Word that Johnson had engaged in criminal wrongdoing hit local officials like a ton of bricks.
"I had no idea, and I think everybody else is both shocked and surprised by the turn of events," Landrieu stated.
State Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, who represents New Orleans East -- the area Johnson represented on the council -- was equally as stunned to hear about the developments.
"It was like out of left field. Caught me by surprise," said Badon.
Badon said he is a definite candidate for the seat Johnson is vacating on the council. The election will be held in November.
"I will be running for the councilman District "E" position," Badon said.
Johnson defeated Badon in a close race to represent New Orleans East as part of the city's legislative body. Badon said the experience from that race should help him in the fall.
"I think it does. Having been in the legislature for going on nine years, having just come out of this council-at-large race, and having run before specifically in "District E"… I think it does give me an advantage. And I'm going to run hard," Badon continued.
Attorney Michael Darnell said he is certainly interested in a possible run. He served as an interim City Councilman-at-Large when Oliver Thomas stepped down because of criminal acts, and he says he has gotten a number of calls from people urging him to run. But Darnell added that there are lot of people who could serve the district, so he said the community should take time to get its bearings after such shocking news.
"My inclination would be to try to do an exploratory committee to get feedback," Darnell told FOX 8 News. "The community should take a week or two to contemplate what is the best way to move forward and we really need to put forth good leadership for 'District E,' and the city."
State Rep. Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans, said he too is interested in the race, but he stressed that he has not made a decision, yet.
"I would expect Austin Badon to have the inside track. He's familiar with the voters there, they're familiar with him. He's campaigned there and lost against Jon Johnson, and so that should put him in the driver's seat," said UNO Political Scientist Ed Chervenak, Ph.D.
The race is sure to attract numerous candidates. But before the November election, the City Council, or possibly the mayor, will have the important task of choosing an interim replacement for Johnson.
"We have been through a number of different fights in terms of replacing council members. It seems to me that perhaps we ought to write down exactly what the process is, so it can be uniform from time to time. I don't have any particular person in mind," said Landrieu.
And not only is there a seat to be filled on the City Council. Johnson was a member of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, as well.
Landrieu, who serves as president of the SW&B, does not believe Johnson's resignation will hamper the board's work.
"I don't think so, I think everything the board has been doing is independent," Landrieu said.
Whoever gets the interim appointment to the council will be barred from running for the seat in the fall.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu addresses reporters on Jon Johnson scandal.
