While all eyes are currently focused on the Louisiana governor’s race, some local elected officials are looking ahead to 2016, including Metro Coucilman John Delgado. Late last week, the John Delgado Campaign Committee sent an email blast to thousands of constituents and supporters, highlighting Delgado’s record and plugging some of his recent accomplishments.
“I’ve spoken up and spoken out about misuse of your tax dollars—and how I think they can be used better,” the flier reads. “I’ve worked with the mayor and Council colleagues on a number of important initiatives. … Recently, I worked with colleagues to block the construction of a barge-cleaning facility near a residential neighborhood, preventing literally tons of toxins from being released into our river and our community. It upset some powerful people, but it was the right thing to do.”
So is Delgado laying the groundwork for an expected 2016 mayoral bid?
Not necessarily. Delgado says the email blast was not intended to be a campaign piece, per se. Rather, it was just a way to connect with those in his district, he says.
However, as he has said in the past, Delgado is extremely interested in the mayor’s race.
“Absolutely it’s a possibility,” he says. “I’m giving it careful consideration.”
State Sen. Sharon Broome is so far the only announced candidate in the mayor’s race. Former Metro Councilmember Byron Sharper and District 10 Councilmember Tara Wicker have been mentioned as possible candidates. Delgado says he’ll be deciding once the 2015 election season is over.
“I’ll definitely be on the ballot in 2016,” he says. “I’m just not ready to say yet for which office.”
Mayor Kip Holden, who was first elected in 2004 and took office the following year, is term-limited. He’s running as the lone Democrat in the race for lieutenant governor on this fall’s ballot against Republicans Elbert Guillory, Billy Nungesser and John Young.
—Stephanie Riegel
