Reelected December 9, 2006 for his 9th term.
An odd combination of factors led to his reelection after he has been caught in the "Cold Cash" sting and indicted by a federal grand jury. Conventional black distrust of authority, an effective Progressive Democrat GOTV machine, endorsements by Nagin and Shepherd, and white opposition to Carter orchestrated in Jefferson Parish by Harry Lee
1 led to a strangely flat Jefferson victory. A slim 16% of registered voters showed up so Jefferson won with only 9.2 % of the possible votes (Jefferson received 35,000 votes from 382,000 registered voters
2).
Does this mean that 90.8% of the district's voters would prefer someone else? I can't infer that 57% of the votes cast equals a mandate.Now it is up to the House to decide whether or not to seat him and the Justice Department as to whether or not to prosecute their case against him. New Orleans Democrats are already clamoring for the Democratic leadership to restore his Ways and Means committee membership. It seems like Pelosi may grant him some less important membership, if any.
The National Democratic Party and its grassroots advocates supported Carter, hoping to remove the stink of corruption from their ranks. This demonstrates just how disconnected Louisiana Democrats are from their National Party and vice versa. Keep in mind, Karen Carter through her association with BOLD was awarded legal contracts to represent the airport in a bond deal that netted her law firm $113,000. It might be legal, and even pass the ethics standards in this state, but awarding big public contracts to politically connected insiders between terms of office is just not the type of behavior we should condone.
I can't tell if there were any undervotes in this election. Since the only race on the ballot was Jefferson / Carter an undervote would have to be pretty deliberate. You would have to go the polls, not select either candidate in the only race, and cast your ballot (presumably in protest rather than ignorance). The undervote data is not being reported anywhere although I have a few friends who say they went to the polls and deliberately pushed the Cast Vote button without selecting either candidate.
Isn't it time for a better system where we are actually represented by the people we pay to go to Washington in our names?
Notes
1. Lee sent out a campaign flyer expressing utter contempt for Carter without in any way endorsing Jefferson. By targeting 25,000 affluent, informed and predominately white voters with his appeal he effectively undercut Karen Carter's support in Jefferson Parish.
2. If we consider the number of residents still unable to return to New Orleans at a generous 200,000 of the 382,000 registered voters the registered total would effectively drop to 182,000. Jefferson's total of 35,121 is still only 19% of the adjusted total. There is something unsettling to me about a representative who is opposed by 81% of the population he is supposed to represent.
In the November 7th primary election a resounding 75.9% of registered voters decided to stay away from the polls. Only 24.1% of the registered voters showed up. It looks like the
registration rolls are still filled with people who feel
disenfranchised, don't care or who no longer live in New Orleans.
Jefferson advanced to the runoffs with the approval of 7.23 % of the registered voters, Karen Carter advanced with 6.6%.
Their combined 13.8% is just over half of the votes cast.
Conventional wisdom says Jefferson is in trouble. An incumbent forced into any runoff is at risk. An incumbent disdained by 70% of the actual voters is in big trouble unless the opponent self-destructs. Compared to Bill, Karen is sufficiently bland that she seems a sure bet to win.
Arguing the presumption of innocence, Jefferson still offers no explanation for the "cold cash" found in his freezer. He prefers to hold his tongue arguing that he may need to defend himself later, at which time he promises a reasonable and honorable explanation. Founder of the Progressive Democrat political machine in New Orleans he has Nagin's support (which has been the kiss of death for other candidates)
His twelve primary opponents argued that at best his legal problems will distract him from the business of representing the city.
Karen Carter - BOLD candidate (aligned with Oliver Thomas et at), La. House District 93 since 1999. Why did she go to three different law schools (B.C., U.Va., Tulane) ? Involved in "no bid" contracts received from Airport. At odds with Jefferson Parish and esp. Harry Lee for her role in Spike Lee's
When the Levees Broke movie where she condemns the actions of Gretna police in preventing Orleanians from marching across Gretna. She is a La. State Senator and daughter of Ken Carter (past assessor and Morial / Singleton confidant).
Troy Carter - four years out of politics he claims independence from the NO political machines. Ran fifth in mayoral primary in 2002. Algiers roots. Lives in English Turn hopes to turn Algiers advantage into a runoff spot.
Derrick Sheppard - JAG officer, La State Senator. Powerful support base in Jefferson Parish.
Joseph Lavigne - the only Republican, he's also white and a political novice. He's hoping the Dem's will split their vote and allow him into the runoff. Then if something untoward happens to Jefferson he could just sneak in. (it didn't work)
and the unnoticed:
Gregory "Rhumbline" Kahn the Libertarian Party candidate whose disclosed positions follow the LP line very closely: "Small Government / Personal Responsibility"
If you are wondering about this gerrymandered district check it out below. The green area is the 2nd Congressional District. It includes Orleans except for predominately white Lakeview and the Lower Garden District. While skipping white areas around Tulane University and Audubon park it blatently includes the two isolated precints know as the Black Pearl. Then it skips over white old Metairie and River Ridge to pick up black south Kenner in East Jefferson, finally it includes nearby West Jefferson but skips overwhelmingly white Gretna and Terrytown. You have got to be kidding.....
By the way this was an intentional result of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and may not be changed without permission from the Justice Department or a federal court.
Click on the image to see more detail and the other districts in Louisiana.