Today is the deadline for the NoLaToya Campaign to submit the signatures they've gained to local elections officials. Campaign organizers will submit their documents to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters at 3 p.m.
So what's next?
"The registrar of voters has to begin the process of validating the signatures," Gambit political columnist Clancy DuBos said, noting that the law gives the registrar 20 working days to complete that process.
Voters have until next Wednesday to add their names to the petition or to remove their signatures. DuBos says that will lead to more campaigning in the coming days.
"I expect the petition organizers will continue to say, 'Look! We're over the top," or something to that effect."
DuBos says it would be in Mayor Cantrell's best interests to start a campaign of her own.
"The burden shifts to the mayor to give the voters a reason. She has to make a case to voters why they should keep her in office."
Xavier University sociologist Silas Lee disagrees. He says taking a low-key approach to the recall effort could ultimately help Mayor Cantrell.
"You don't want to engage in this continuous campaign of responding to your opponent, whereby it looks like you have a media campaign with the recall supporters and you have somewhat of an emotional campaign with those who oppose the recall," Dr. Lee said.
According to Dr. Lee, it's too soon to predict what will happen after the signatures are counted.
"Due to the fact that we don't have a playbook or a template or comparison of this happening in the past--this is history making in the sense of a mayor trying to be recalled--we just have to sit tight and let the process play out."
DuBos believes the outlook is clearer. According to him, people who previously contributed to Mayor Cantrell's campaign, including city contractors, are not pleased with the mayor and would probably refuse to donate to her cause. DuBos also notes that if the recall campaign gain more than 50,000 signatures, the mayor could find herself in trouble when the recall election happens.
"I suspect it will be a lot more difficult to raise money now than it was when she was running for re-election against a week field," DuBos said. "The mayor only received 48,750 votes to win reelection, and if they have anywhere north of 50,000 (signatures), it's significant that more people signed a petition to remove her from office than voted for her to remain in office."
