The field in the Oct. 11 New Orleans mayoral election is which means it’s time to think about the issues voters will want the candidates to address.
With dissatisfaction over the operations of city government and concern for New Orleans’ future high, according to , the list of questions each candidate should be asked — and be prepared to answer — is long.
Here, in the interest of getting the ball rolling, are some of mine:
Ron Faucheux
- More than 28,000 people left New Orleans for other places between 2020 and 2024. What can be done to retain existing residents and attract new ones?
- As mayor, what would be your top three or four priorities? How would you measure the performance of each of your main initiatives?
- Do you think the next mayor should focus on improving the delivery of basic city services or on adding new social services?
- Can the city both improve basic services and expand social services without raising taxes?
- New Orleans' operating budget grew from $537 million in 2015 to $1.8 billion in 2025. Are taxpayers getting their money’s worth?
- How would you improve the management of city government?
- What parts of the city budget would you cut? What would you increase?
- To remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, do you think the civil service system should be reformed? If so, how?
- Comparing last year to this year in New Orleans, crimes against persons have gone down 25% and property crimes have gone down 35%. What lessons are we learning?
- Will you reappoint Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick?
- The New Orleans Police Department has fewer than 900 officers. How many should it have?
- Median police response time for all calls is 20.3 minutes. How can this be improved?
- The NOPD federal consent decree has cost the city more than $61 million, according to the state legislative auditor. Has it been worth the money?
- Two years ago, city property taxes were increased to fund an early childhood education program. What metrics would you use to determine if this program is worth the cost to taxpayers?
- At least 2% of the city budget must now be used for housing programs. How should additional housing funds be spent? What metrics will you use to monitor the success of these programs?
- Do you favor raising the minimum wage in the city? At what level would a higher minimum wage hurt local businesses and job creation?
- Should city government sponsor a public website that tracks the daily progress of all the work being done by city agencies, from fixing potholes and cleaning catch basins to monitoring trash collection and permitting?
- Do you think nonprofit colleges, universities, hospitals and religious organizations that are now exempt from paying property taxes in Orleans Parish should continue to be exempt, or should they pay property taxes as do homeowners and commercial property owners?
- Do you think the Sewerage & Water Board needs major changes? If so, what are they?
- Would you support a new stormwater management fee to modernize outdated drainage equipment, pipes and turbines? How high of a fee would you support?
- Would you favor replacing property tax millages now dedicated to drainage with a stormwater management fee?
- Would you support a regional water purification system to serve Orleans and surrounding parishes?
- Will your chief administrative officer have the clear responsibility and authority to manage the operations of city government? How will you find and hire the right CAO?
- Will your city attorney work primarily for the mayor, or have a clear ethical duty to work for all of city government?
- How would you eliminate delays in the completion of street, drainage and other infrastructure projects?
- The city has hired a Boston-based consultant to help manage FEMA-funded roadwork. Do you think this is a good idea? Will you continue it?
- What is your plan for a long-term capital outlay program?
- New Orleans is heavily dependent upon state and federal funding. How will you convince the Landry and Trump administrations to support city funding?
- How would you protect the city’s tree canopy?
- What would you do with the Municipal Auditorium?
- Would you support additional city funding for the Bayou Phoenix development in eastern New Orleans? If so, how much?
- Will you accept campaign contributions from city contactors? What contributions won’t you accept?
There you have it, my questions for the next mayor.
As a citizen, it’s your job to make sure yours are asked too — and answered.