Qualifying opens today for winter elections to replace Mayor Ray Nagin, who is prevented by term limits from running. The primary is set for Feb. 6, with a runoff a month later, if necessary.

Heading into the three-day qualifying period, at least eight people had declared plans to run. They include (top row left to right above) nonprofit founder Leslie Jacobs; state Sen. Ed Murray; attorney Rob Couhig; Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu; (bottom row left to right) consultant Troy Henry; fair housing advocate James Perry; former judge Nadine Ramsey; and businessman John Georges.

Qualifying closes Friday.

Read story at WWL.com.

Landrieu, the brother of Lousiana’s senior senator, Mary Landrieu and the son of former Mayor Moon Landrieu, would be joining a field of seven candidates in the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Ray Nagin. Landrieu is said to have changed his mind after deciding no other candidate had caught fire in the race, for which qualifying begins Wednesday.

Read full story at Southern Political Report.

WDSU has learned Monday from five separate sources that Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu will announce his candidacy for mayor.

Just this summer, Landrieu said he did not intend to run. If he does, that would make nine candidates for the 2010 mayoral race.

Xavier University Professor Silas Lee said he isn’t surprised to see another candidate entering the race.

“We will not know until 5 p.m. Friday who will show up at this party … but as of now … the doors are still open, and a lot of people still seem to be checking in. This is not a contested seat and with open seats, it attracts quite a few people,” Lee said.

Read full story at WDSU.com.

Throwing a wrench into a crowded New Orleans mayoral contest that seemed to be all but set on the eve of qualifying, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu appears poised to enter the race for the open seat today, reversing a midsummer announcement that he would opt out.

Sources close to Landrieu, who lost a tight runoff to Mayor Ray Nagin in 2006, said the lieutenant governor will attend a morning news conference at Cafe Reconcile and urged reporters to be on hand. Landrieu could not be reached for comment.

A legislative source said Landrieu told his staff about his plans to run late Monday, and a longtime Landrieu supporter said the lieutenant governor himself was making phone calls to financial backers to inform them that he will be among those who sign up to run for mayor when the three-day qualifying period opens Wednesday. Seven major candidates have already announced they intend to seek the post.

Landrieu, a Democrat, is the son of former Mayor Moon Landrieu and the brother of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

Considered a front-runner because of his high political profile and strong showing in polls, Landrieu announced in July that he would not seek the mayor’s office in 2010. Saying he was flattered to again be considered, he added: “There are many capable people who will make themselves available and who will serve well, if elected.”

But amid reports in mid-October that he was reconsidering, a Landrieu spokeswoman left the door ajar, saying that “at this point in time” he had not “changed his mind.”

Landrieu allies have speculated for months that the failure of any of the announced mayoral candidates to catch fire was fueling a renewed interest on the part of some voters in the state’s No. 2 official. Another factor they cited was that even as a noncandidate, Landrieu continued to poll well.

What remains to be seen is how a Landrieu candidacy might be affected by the “reluctant warrior” label he was tagged with in the 2006 campaign.

As Landrieu deliberated four years ago about whether to run, attorney Rob Couhig — who finished fourth and is running again this time — aired a television commercial that portrayed the lieutenant governor as a clanking knight in armor struggling with his footing. Audubon Institute CEO Ron Forman, a Landrieu ally, announced he would run after Landrieu dithered about his plans.

A similar scenario appears to have played out again this year.

Read full story at NOLA.com.

I will use these four conservative guidelines to make decisions as your mayor:

1. Will it make our City more Livable?

2. Will it make our City more Affordable?

3. How does it affect Economic Opportunity?

4. Is it Fair?

By using this matrix, we can Attack the issue of crime and integrity in the police department; Battle blight and multi-million dollar budget deficits by resisting the short term easy out of raising taxes; and, Create jobs for everyone who wants to work.

Read full story at Best of New Orleans Blog.

It’s been the subject of speculation for almost a year — will jazz great Irvin Mayfield run for mayor of New Orleans?Mayfield says no, in an interview with WDSU anchor Norman Robinson.

“The decision we’ve come together and made is that we will not be running for mayor of New Orleans,” Mayfield said during a taping of the “Hot Seat” segment, which airs Sunday night on WDSU News. “We looked at a couple of different things — timing, and what’s necessary right now. I think a lot of people feel that folks at this point really want a certain face, a certain type of experience.”

Read full story at WDSU.com.

The 30-second spot, which aired for the first time Monday night during the Saints’ trouncing of the New England Patriots, offered a classic biographical sketch, quickly laying out Georges’ life story — a rags-to-riches tale, in the candidate’s view — and culminating with a campaign promise direct from Georges.

As a female voice lists resume highlights in the ad’s opening seconds, nearly 20 distinct images from Georges’ past flash across the screen — from a school yearbook photo to a current family portrait to a shot of him leading a corporate-looking team down a hallway.

Read full story at NOLA.com.

Last Wednesday must have been a wild ride for Perry. In the morning, his candidacy took off like a Phoenix, but by nightfall it appeared to be crashing prematurely. The forum was sponsored by the nonprofit Afterschool Partnership. All seven announced and presumed candidates attended, and four of them muffed the very first question, which dealt with the city-run juvenile prison known as the Youth Study Center. Apparently four of the candidates thought the facility was an after-school study hall, and their responses were embarrassingly off the mark.

The four candidates who blew the question were businessman Troy Henry, businessman John Georges, state Sen. Ed Murray — whose district includes the facility — and former school board member Leslie Jacobs. Each gave a vague response applauding the idea of “studies centers,” with some even suggesting that they be incorporated into existing schools.

Read full story at Best of New Orleans Blog.

Add to that the retirement of a powerful Jefferson Parish administrator amid a federal investigation and the missteps of a number of New Orleans mayoral candidates during the first forum of the campaign season, and there would seem to be no dearth of fodder for the Thursday morning coffee klatch.

But none of those stories managed to trump the chatter over mayoral hopeful James Perry’s profanity-laden TV spot, which tied up radio call-in shows for hours and kept comments rolling into local Internet news sites.

The spot features unnamed actors expressing shock that several of Perry’s opponents are veterans of local politics. Among the exclamations: “What? Are you shi–ing me?” and “Are you f—ing kidding me!” Bleeps and dark patches over the actors’ mouths hide the crude language, though the sound of the first letter of each can be heard — leaving no question about what’s being said.

Read full story at NOLA.com.