NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The NOLATOYA recall efforts fell short of about 18,000 signatures required to get Mayor Cantrell out of office.
Tuesday morning, the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters officials delivered the certified recall documents to the state capitol. From there the petition traveled to the governor’s office.
Over 67,000 signatures were collected but only about 27,000 of those were registered voters in Orleans Parish. For recall purposes, 20 percent of the voting population (45,000 signatures) were needed.
“That tabulation required her team to look into the handwritten signatures, compare them with the signatures on the voters card, compare the information contained on the recall petition,” said Ryan Luminais, the attorney for Dr. Sandra Wilson the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters
Recall organizer Beden Batiste says this isn’t the end and there are plans to challenge those numbers. Legal Analysts Cliff Cardone spoke about what a challenge could look like.
“Well, I don’t think that’s going to go anywhere. I think the election and the voters who made a selection early on are maintained. I don’t think any Governor or any court is going to set aside the mandate of the people,” said Cardone.
Andrew Holdiness, a former Orleans Parish voter now living out of state, questions the accuracy of the registrar’s list.
“When I moved out of state a year ago, I immediately changed my voter registration to my new state, and I voted in the mid-terms here,” said Holdiness. “Today I saw that two-thirds of the signatures were thrown out, and I went on to the Secretary of State’s website, and it said I’m still an Orleans Parish active voter.”
Cardone says although the effort may have failed, he believes the recall has left its mark.
“The effort dies but the mayor’s legacy has been seriously challenged, and this legacy is a legacy of failed leadership,” said Cardone.
Mayor Latoya Cantrell released a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the latest recall news:
My administration has always remained focused on addressing the real pressing issues that face our City. Now, with the divisiveness of the failed recall campaign officially behind us, we must heal and recommit ourselves to working collaboratively to continue the progress we’ve made towards reducing crime, increasing public safety, building a more sustainable and resilient city and creating economic and job opportunities that benefit all of our people.
As a former member of the New Orleans City Council and a twice-elected mayor, I have always respected and believed deeply in the democratic process. The right of the people to use their voice to express concerns are hallmarks of a strong, functioning democracy. New Orleans is a strong community that continues to make meaningful progress each day. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the residents of New Orleans for trusting in my leadership and believing that, for New Orleans, the best is truly yet to come.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell
Click here to read the statement released from the NOLATOYA Recall organizers which in part states “The way the law is written now, the recall was required to get more signatures than votes,” said Eileen Carter recall organizer.
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