Elections Commissioner Suzanne Haik Terrell is very close
to making it official that she will run. That should set up
another hard fought statewide contest between two New Orleans-based
candidates. Foti is a Democrat; Terrell is a Republican.
Less than a year ago, Terrell was locked in a pitched battle
against Mary Landrieu for the U.S. Senate. Landrieu won, but
only after a very bitter campaign. Both Terrell and Landrieu
are from New Orleans.
Attorney Al Donovan of Jefferson Parish, who once served as
executive counsel to Gov. Edwin Edwards, has been campaigning
for a while for the AG's job, but he does not have Terrell's
statewide cachet or Foti's political ties to sheriffs, district
attorneys, clerks and assessors across Louisiana -- many of
whom have been encouraging Foti for months to make the race.
State Rep. Don Cazayoux of New Roads has talked of running but
is said to be leaning toward seeking re-election now that Foti
is officially in the hunt.
"Charlie has every sheriff, 90 percent of the DAs, and 90
percent of the clerks with him, not to mention many assessors,"
says Allan Katz, publicist for Foti. "He'll come out of New
Orleans very strong."
That means the race will be decided in Jefferson Parish and
Acadiana. That's a familiar scenario for Terrell, who lost to
Landrieu because she didn't do well enough in Jefferson and
in the sugar cane belt. Every election is a unique event, so
it will be interesting to see where Jefferson goes this time.
Katz says Foti has gotten encouragement (but not official
endorsements) from several Jefferson Parish political leaders,
including Parish President Tim Coulon, Sheriff Harry Lee and
Council President Aaron Broussard.
Foti also has a huge war chest. He'll need it, because as
popular and as well known as he is in the New Orleans area (after
nearly 30 years as criminal sheriff), he's still an untested
commodity statewide. The sheriffs and DAs no doubt will help,
but this race will be a sprint, not a marathon. He'll have to
spend heavily to get his name recognition level up to that of
Terrell, who spent heavily establishing her name last year.
For her part, Terrell doesn't seem to be worried about Foti's
deep pockets or his broad political support. "I've never had
the backing of the courthouse crowd in any of my races," she
says. "I've always been a reformer interested in bringing change,
so I don't expect support from the good ol' boys."
In addition to her race for Senate, Terrell has a successful
statewide campaign under her belt, having beaten incumbent Jerry
Fowler and fellow Republican Woody Jenkins in the 1999 race
for elections commissioner. She also has a good grassroots organization
from that race and the Senate campaign.
Terrell's major weakness will be the lingering effects, if
any, of her harshly negative campaign for the Senate last year.
Many feel she lost the race in the final week because the national
GOP ads (which she did not control) continued to attack Landrieu
right up to election day. Her task this time will be to show
a softer side of Suzie.
But make no mistake about it: this race is going to be another
barnburner.
