Despite the recall campaign against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell falling short, the mayor today said a lawsuit against the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office will continue.
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin agreed to reduce the active voter count in Orleans Parish by 25,000, in a settlement with recall organizers that argued elections officials failed to keep accurate voter rolls.
That agreement meant the recall campaign needed 5,000 fewer signatures in order to trigger a recall election. However, the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters determined there were only around 27,000 valid signatures on the petition, thousands short of the 44,976 needed.
Mayor Cantrell said it smacked of disenfranchisement, even though inactive voters can still vote.
"The lawsuits will continue to advance, because it's not about me, it really is about democracy, in this not only city but in this state," said Cantrell.
The mayor said little else about the recall in a news conference Wednesday, other than to say she is happy to have it behind her.
"What I will say is a huge 'thank you.' A huge 'thank you' to residents who understood that work was being done and also wanted to see the work continue throughout my administration," said Cantrell. "So that's in the rear view mirror. It's, again, just staying focused and my call to action now is for everyone to stay focused and let's do the business of the city of New Orleans."
