With less than a week until qualifying begins for the Baton Rouge mayor’s race, at least one unannounced candidate is still mulling a possible run.
Democratic State Rep. Ted James said on the Clay Young Show podcast Wednesday that he has been encouraged in recent days to throw his hat in the ring. While James decided earlier this year not to enter the race after seriously considering a run, he refused to rule it out when pressed by Young on the issue.
“This week a lot of people have asked me to reconsider,” James said in the podcast interview.
“And?” Young asked.
“I’m not reconsidering—yet,” James replied.
“Wait a minute, not reconsidering yet?” Young said. “Yes or no, are you definite that you will not be a candidate for mayor?”
“We’ll know on the 19th,” James said.
The 19th is the day before qualifying, which runs July 20-22.
In the days following Alton Sterling’s fatal shooting by police, James has been prominent among the local elected officials attending nightly vigils, rallies and protests. During increasingly tense standoffs last weekend between protesters and law enforcement, James called for order and urged demonstrators not to escalate the situation.
He told Young in Wednesday’s interview that not being a mayoral candidate has enabled him to speak freely at the various events, unlike several of his peers who are campaigning.
So far, nine candidates have announced they plan to run for mayor, including: B.J. Amador, Smokie Bourgeois, Sharon Weston Broome, John Delgado, Darryl Gissel, Greg Lafleur, Denise Marcelle, Byron Sharper and Bodi White.
The primary election is Nov. 8 with a likely runoff set for Dec. 10.
—Stephanie Riegel
