With just 100 days left in office, Mayor LaToya Cantrell is focused on completing the work she started while the political spotlight is shifting to the race for her replacement.
Political pollster Ed Chervenak says Cantrell’s remaining days likely won’t include new initiatives.
“She should, and probably will, continue to do the work of her office. That may not include new projects, but it will include wrapping up the work she began,” he said.
But Chervenak notes that Cantrell’s approval numbers are weak.
“An approval rating of just twenty percent” he said, adding that they’ve created an opening for energized challengers.
Chervenak says Councilmember Helena Moreno continues to hold a commanding lead and is “at or near the votes needed to win the race outright.”
Still, he points out that undecided voters could prevent a first-round victory.
“When it comes to the undecided, it’s hard to know if they’re truly undecided or just unwilling to say who they support,” he explained.
The pollster says opponents will have to energize those voters if they want to push Moreno into a runoff. And, when asked whether he’d put money behind Moreno winning outright, Chervenak added: “All the numbers point to that possibility.”