Jeremy Alford and David Jacobs: Baton Rouge mayor race will be a ballot highlight

In what promises to be one of the hottest local races on the 2024 ballot, the leading Democratic candidates for East Baton Rouge mayor-president are splintering the region’s legislative delegation while testing the bonds of their own friendship, if such a thing even exists during an election cycle.
Moreover, the contest may become another Louisiana case study for how Republican voters can greatly influence outcomes in Democratic strongholds on the municipal level.
Ted James, a former state legislator aiming to become the next Red Stick CEO, said he doesn’t plan to sling mud in his race against incumbent Sharon Weston Broome. In fact, James said he met with Mayor Broome privately to let her know his plans. “I don’t think I have to go negative,” James said. “I still consider the mayor a friend. I still consider her an ally.” 
But Broome, who has built a political brand around Christian principles and pragmatic politics, said she found James’ announcement “disheartening.” After all, James co-chaired her first campaign for mayor and she supported his aspirations in politics and with the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he worked as a regional administrator before leaving to run for mayor. “As recently as two years ago, I was on his resume,” the mayor said. “Of course, this is America, and everybody can run for office.” 
Broome is seeking her third and final term as EBR’s mayor-president. She also served on the Metro Council and was the first woman to be named both speaker pro tem and president pro tem at the Capitol. 
James could have bided his time and run for an open seat in four years, but he said “Baton Rouge can’t afford to wait another four years” for change. He plans to make public safety an issue, and argued the administration has been ineffective at drawing down and utilizing federal dollars for housing. 
He said the Louisiana legislative auditor reported theft by a former employee and noncompliance with federal rules at the EBR Housing Authority, while Terry Jones, then City Hall reporter with The Advocate, tallied some $13.4 million in wasted or unspent federal housing grants. 
On the crime front, Broome said the parish has seen a 34% reduction in gun violence during the past two years, though there has been a spike in the early portion of this year. She pointed to a 14% pay raise for police officers as part of her administration’s efforts to “tackle [crime] head on.” 
Campaign money is the real eye-opener for insiders. For the first quarter of this year, James raised about $500,000, while Broome collected roughly $300,000. Broome’s campaign has highlighted donations from Republicans, including supporters of the St. George incorporation movement, to argue that James has abandoned his progressive values and Democratic voting record. “It shows his allegiance is going to be with those donors who represent special interests that are interested in segregating our city and moving their agenda into City Hall,” Broome said. 
James counters he has three times as many donors who gave less than $100, suggesting grassroots support. He said he worked across the aisle as a legislator and isn’t surprised that some Republicans would want to contribute.
Broome certainly has high-profile backers. Congressman Troy Carter endorsed her last month, and Broome said Senate President Pro Tem Regina Barrow is her campaign co-chair. James’ campaign counts Rep. Barbara Carpenter, Rep. Larry Selders and Rep. Vanessa Caston LaFleur among his legislative delegation supporters. 
The big question in the race now, said consultant and pollster John Couvillon, is whether a viable Republican will enter. EBR is increasingly Democratic, he said, and he expects much of the Democratic base to back the incumbent. But if James can eat into that base, while also cornering the Republican vote, “it’s game over for Mayor Broome, because she’s certainly not going to get 95% of the Black vote against a fellow Black Democrat,” Couvillon said. 
At least one Republican hoping to be that viable candidate is David Tatman, a lobbyist and former EBR school board president. While he has not made a public announcement, Tatman confirmed his intentions to LaPolitics and said he plans to make it official on July 4. 
Tatman (or any Republican) may face a difficult road, said Eddie Rispone, the Baton Rouge businessman who ran for governor against former Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2019. Rispone donated to James’ campaign. Baton Rouge is a Democratic city, Rispone said, though he added that the parish may become more Republican as Central, Zachary and St. George grow. In the meantime, Rispone believes James can appeal to Republican-leaning and independent voters. 
Woody Jenkins, who chairs the EBR Republican Party, said the race is winnable for the GOP, noting that the parish’s sheriff, assessor, clerk of court and coroner are all Republicans, as are the majority of the school board and Metro Council. Jenkins is putting together a committee to identify a candidate who can motivate the base while also tapping into the Democratic vote. He said a strong Republican could not only make the runoff but run first in November.
Plus, in December, the electorate likely would be smaller and have a larger proportion of Republicans. “I don’t see it as a long shot, but a lot of people would,” Jenkins adds. 
There will be a “plethora” of local offices on the ballot this year, added Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office. The first round of those elections will also coincide with the presidential vote in November, which typically sees turnout of around 70%, Watson said. (Don’t forget: 2024 will feature a 10-day early voting period for the presidential election, which was part of the emergency election plan in 2020 and was made permanent by legislation passed in 2021.)
While EBR is the largest Louisiana jurisdiction with a mayoral race, “quite a few” cities with a population roughly between 8,000 and 16,000 in population will hold elections, said Barney Arceneaux, the new executive director of the Louisiana Municipal Association. That includes Arceneaux’s hometown of Gonzales, where he served four terms as mayor before stepping down to join the LMA this year. 
Qualifying for the November ballot is July 17 through July 19.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @ LaPoliticsNow.