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Orleans Parish Elections
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Candidates on the Ballot
The Louisiana Charter School Association (LCSA) invited the top three candidates for the mayoral race, three open-seat city council races, and the office of sheriff to participate in video interviews. LCSA did not include city council races with incumbents seeking re-election, as their existing records on matters involving city and school system collaboration are considered sufficient for assessment. Despite the sheriff race including an incumbent, LCSA included it to provide candidates an opportunity to share their approaches to addressing truancy and fostering collaboration with the school system.
The questions posed to candidates are tailored to each candidate’s office and focus on how their roles intersect with the education of students in New Orleans.
Candidates for Sheriff
Susan Hutson
Susan Hutson, the first woman and first Black woman ever elected as Orleans Parish Sheriff, has led the department since May 2, 2022, bringing a background in criminal justice reform, law oversight, and prior service as the city’s Independent Police Monitor. Her tenure has blended initiatives such as jail technology upgrades and deputy pay increases with persistent challenges.
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Michelle Woodfork
Michelle Woodfork is a New Orleans native with over 33 years in law enforcement, who made history as the first woman to serve as interim Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, during which violent crime dropped by an estimated 23–25% and carjackings fell by 45%, while police recruitment tripled. After retiring in early 2024, she joined the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office as Director of Forensics and Intelligence, overseeing the Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Taskforce to strengthen prosecutions of violent crimes.
Edwin Mark Shorty, Jr.
Edwin Mark Shorty Jr. is the current Constable of Orleans Parish’s 2nd City Court—a position he has held since 2013—and a practicing attorney with experience as a deputy sheriff early in his career and in private legal practice since 2003. A native New Orleanian and Southern University at New Orleans alumnus, Shorty emphasizes local roots, public safety credentials, and community engagement as his strengths in seeking the sheriff’s office.
Candidates for City Council - At-Large Division 1
Delisha Boyd
Delisha Boyd is a Democratic State Representative for Louisiana’s 102nd House District and a licensed real estate broker, serving since November 2021. She holds business degrees from Southern University at New Orleans and the University of Phoenix and has led a successful real estate career with nearly $300 million in sales. In the legislature, she serves on key committees and champions issues like fair housing, women’s rights, and criminal justice reform.
Matthew Hill
Matthew Hill is a Republican candidate for New Orleans City Council At-Large (Division 1) and a Salvadoran-born entrepreneur with a degree in Government from George Mason University. He brings a business-focused approach to city government, emphasizing efficiency, accountability, and service improvement through Lean Six Sigma methods. His platform includes boosting public safety, revitalizing New Orleans East, and tackling housing costs and infrastructure issues.
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Matthew Willard
Matthew  Willard is a State Representative, elected in November 2019 representing District 97 in New Orleans. A New Orleans native, he earned a B.S. in Marketing from the University of New Orleans before working in marketing and communications roles at Schulkens Communications and later Fluence Analytics. In the legislature, he serves on key committees—including Insurance, Ways and Means, and Municipal, Parochial & Cultural Affairs—and since January 2024 has served as Minority Leader of the Louisiana House Democratic Caucus.
Candidates for City Council - Division A
Holly Friedman
Holly Friedman is a Democratic candidate for New Orleans City Council District A and a former Constituent Services Director for Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. She now serves as Director of Open-Source Intelligence at the Orleans Parish DA’s Office, coordinating data-driven crime reduction efforts. A graduate of LSU and current MPA student at Tulane, she advocates for efficient government, smarter permitting, public safety innovation, and transparent city services.
Aimee McCarron
Aimee McCarron is a lifelong District A resident, mother of twins, and former Policy and Budget Director for Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. She holds a B.S. from the University of New Orleans and has a background in financial advising and restaurant management. McCarron is running to bring accountability, improved city services, and workforce development to neighborhoods including Lakeview, Mid-City, Uptown, Hollygrove, and Gert Town.
Robert "Bob" Murrell
Bob Murrell is a lifelong New Orleans resident, community organizer, and software developer who has worked as a janitor, pizza delivery driver, and warehouse manager. A graduate of Tulane University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, he has led and mentored teams as a senior developer and project manager. Murrell is running for City Council District A to advocate for working-class residents, emphasizing affordable housing, utility regulation, and community-driven governance.
Candidates for City Council - Division E
Jason Hughes
Jason Hughes is a seasoned political strategist and public servant, currently serving as the Louisiana State Representative for District 100. A graduate of Southern University with a degree in political science, Hughes has held key roles in state and local government, including assistant legislative director to former Governor Kathleen Blanco and director of federal relations for the City of New Orleans. He is running for City Council District E to continue his commitment to public service and community development.
Cyndi Nguyen
Cyndi Nguyen is a former Democratic member of the New Orleans City Council representing District E (New Orleans East & Lower Ninth Ward), first elected in 2017 and serving until January 2022. As the first Vietnamese-American and fifth Asian American ever elected to a major office in Louisiana, she built her career as a community organizer and co-founder of VIET, supporting non-English speaking and marginalized communities. Nguyen is now a candidate in the October 11, 2025 election to reclaim her former council seat, campaigning on economic development, housing equity, and responsive local representation.
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Danyelle Christmas
Danyelle Christmas is running to represent District E, including New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward, motivated by personal experience as the child of a father who was wrongfully convicted in Louisiana’s for-profit prison system. She focuses her campaign on addressing the housing crisis, promoting economic development, and fighting for economic justice so residents can access a higher quality of life.
Candidates for Mayor
Royce Duplessis
Royce Duplessis is a New Orleans native, attorney, and Democratic State Senator for Louisiana’s 5th District (since December 2022), previously representing House District 93 from 2018 to 2022. He built his career as chief of staff to a city council member, an energy law advocate, and special counsel to the state Supreme Court, championing criminal justice reform and environmental justice before founding his own civil litigation practice.
Helena Moreno
Helena Moreno is the President of the New Orleans City Council and a longtime councilmember at-large, with prior service in the Louisiana House of Representatives (District 93) from 2010 to 2018. A former Emmy‑award winning journalist turned policymaker, she has championed criminal justice reforms, affordable housing, small & minority business support, and major infrastructure and utility fixes across the city.
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Oliver Thomas
Oliver Thomas is the current City Councilmember for District E (covering New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward), first elected in 2021 after previously serving on the Council from 1994 to 2007. His campaign emphasizes tackling core quality‑of‑life challenges by cleaning up neighborhoods, revitalizing sites like the Six Flags location and Lincoln Beach, improving infrastructure and public services, and boosting economic opportunity in underserved communities. Thomas entered the mayoral race in March 2025.
CLIENTS
Charter Allies
We are grateful for the dedicated leaders who have stood with Louisiana’s charter schools. Their commitment to expanding educational opportunities ensures that every child in New Orleans has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed. Because of their support, families have more choices, students have brighter futures, and our communities are stronger.
Jean-Paul "J.P." Morrell
Councilmember at Large Division 2
Freddie King, III
Councilmember District C
Lesli Harris
Councilmember District B
