The Louisiana election season for 2021 has finally ended with the December 11th election and while voter turnout was low as predicted LaPolitics.com Editor Jeremy Alford said one race, in particular, should grab national headlines with Democrat Susan Hutson unseating four-term incumbent Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman with 53% of the vote.
“New Orleans is becoming a hub for criminal justice efforts and it’s becoming kind of a case study for other cities who might be interested in electing candidates who are on that criminal justice reform ballot,” said Alford.
Last year Jason Williams, who also ran on a criminal justice reform platform was elected District Attorney of Orleans Parish.
Another race of interest was in St. Tammany Parish to allow a gaming casino to be built in Slidell. With a 32% turnout, voters rejected to allow a Bossier Parish casino license to relocate in St. Tammany 63% to 37%. Alford said the question now is where the casino license will go.
“A few years ago, Tangipahoa Parish was the target. This year the target was St. Tammany for relocation but voters rejected that, where does it go next,” Alford questioned.
Alford said even Mississippi casinos didn’t campaign against it because early polling indicated there was no threat of the measure passing.
And in Ouachita Parish there was an attempt to recall Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown, Sr. Alford said a recall vote is extremely rare and the measure failed with a voter turnout of 21%.
“They rejected that recall question with about 60% of the vote there so it looks like the mayor will get to finish his term,” said Alford.
Thirty-four parish held elections Saturday which also consisted of various bond issues and run-offs for municipal elections.
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