The campaign for Orleans Parish District Attorney was very competitive and extremely nasty. Four candidates entered the race with Leon Cannizzaro and Ralph Capitelli making the run-off. Cannizzaro and Capitelli poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign. The result was an overwhelming victory for Cannizzaro as he won with a huge 62-38% margin.
The results show that the community is looking to Cannizzaro to tackle violent crime, the most pressing problem facing New Orleans. Cannizzaro will assume the most important position in New Orleans. At this critical juncture, the people of New Orleans desperately need leadership in the criminal justice system and Cannizzaro is uniquely suited to fill that role. Cannizzaro knows the problems at Tulane and Broad streets better than anyone since he has been working in the criminal justice system for over a quarter of a century.
Cannizzaro gambled his political career by resigning his position as Judge to launch the campaign. During the heated race, Cannizzaro was attacked for being associated with two people who were convicted of crimes and for lobbying the Legislature for a proposal that will increase his pension. Despite these controversies, no one should doubt Cannizzaro’s integrity and his capability. He has succeeded at every level of public service. From the District Attorney’s office to the appellate court, Cannizzaro has performed his duties with an unusual intensity and the results have been impressive.
As the new District Attorney, Cannizzaro will face a criminal justice system that is broken. Crime is out of control and inhibiting the future growth of New Orleans. Crimes are often not solved, many criminals are not prosecuted and those that are jailed are often released from jail to commit other crimes. The office has been a mess ever since Eddie Jordan was elected in 2002. Jordan was a disaster for the office. He began his term by immediately firing dozens of qualified workers because of the color of their skin. Jordan was found guilty of racial discrimination and the huge financial liabilities that were incurred harmed the office and impeded the ability of the District Attorney’s office to fight crime.
Needless to say, Cannizzaro will have his hands full. As he begins his six year term, his landslide gives him a great mandate to pursue the type of changes necessary to bring crime under control in New Orleans. As the new District Attorney, Leon Cannizzaro brings immediate credibility to the office. One of his first tasks will be to secure more funding from the office. He will have to talk to the Louisiana Legislature, the Governor’s office and City Hall and go after available federal grants. Most importantly, voters in New Orleans want Cannizzaro to create an efficient office that will effectively prosecute criminals.
Anyone who knows Leon Cannizzaro has no doubt that he will pursue these goals with vigor and will ultimately be successful and benefit every law abiding citizen of New Orleans.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and the Political Editor for NewOrleans.com. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
I was stunned by the landslide. i watched wwl debate and capitelli was more confident, more mature, more of a tough guy, and presented himself as more interested in working with the police instead of screwing with them. Don't care much for endorsements, but CAPITELLI GOT CONNICKS ENDORSEMENT......CONNICK WORKED WITH BOTH OF THEM AND ENDORESED CAP. THEN THE COPS...ENDORSED CAP. NOW WE HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO THE COPS DID NOT WANT. A CANDIDATE WHO PLANS TO INTERFERE WITH NOPD IN THEIR MURDER INVESTIGATIONS...........BUT CRAP.....EVEN SOMEONE WHO IS BATTLING NOPD INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH NOPD IS BETTER THAN "LET 'EM GO" JORDAN......... Written by STUNNED
on 11/6/2008
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The campaign for Orleans Parish District Attorney was very competitive and extremely nasty. Four candidates entered the race with Leon Cannizzaro and Ralph Capitelli making the run-off. Cannizzaro and Capitelli poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign. The result was an overwhelming victory for Cannizzaro as he won with a huge 62-38% margin. 
