New Orleans, La. -
Some New Orleans East residents filed lawsuits Friday, asking a judge to remove two candidates from the race for the District E seat on the City Council. The lawsuit puts James Gray and Cynthia Willard-Lewis under scrutiny.
The residents say Willard-Lewis and Gray legally are not eligible to run for the seat recently vacated by Jon Johnson.
The lawsuits, filed Friday morning in Civil District Court, allege Willard-Lewis isn't eligible because she's already served two consecutive terms in office. According to the city's home rule charter, no one can serve three consecutive terms.
But a spokesperson for Willard-Lewis tells FOX 8 that he believes she is eligible, because Johnson left the term halfway through, essentially creating a new term. And Willard-Lewis even got a new job after her last term in office, becoming a state senator.
Political analyst Silas Lee comments, "Cynthia Willard-Lewis went from serving on the City Council to serving as a state senator, so that's open to interpretation. It says consecutive but by not saying 'ever,' that's where the big question mark is."
The lawsuit against James Gray alleges he isn't eligible to run for the council seat because he doesn't actually live in New Orleans East. His home, he's admitted, was damaged in Katrina, and he hasn't physically resided there since.
We reached out to Gray for comment but he didn't call us back.
One of the attorneys for the group that filed suit Friday explains why these three citizens are taking action against the two candidates. Alysson Mills says, "It's purely that they want a candidate from New Orleans East... and they want a candidate that is a fresh face."
The lawsuits ask a judge to decide if Willard-Lewis and Gray are eligible to run. There will be hearing at Civil District Court Tuesday morning, and the judge is expected to issue a ruling on Wednesday.
