Should the New Orleans voters elect the Superintendent of Police similar to the way other large communities do, such as Jefferson Parish Sheriff or should the Mayor continue to select that person?
Below is a press release from the office of Greg Buisson:
In an independent poll commissioned by VoicePac a strong majority of registered voters believe that electing the Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department will lead to a safer city.
When asked to answer the question, "Do you believe New Orleans will be a safer city under a Superintendent who answers to the Mayor of New Orleans and City Council, or a Superintendent who is elected by New Orleans voters?" the voters indicated that New Orleans would be safer under an elected police superintendent by a margin of 62% to 20%. Voters did not differ among race with 60% of white voters 63% of black voters supporting the concept of an elected superintendent of the NOPD.
QUESTION: Do you believe New Orleans will be a safer city under a Superintendent who answers to the Mayor of New Orleans and City Council, or a Superintendent who is elected by New Orleans voters?
|
SAFER CITY UNDER |
VOTER CHOICE |
AMONG WHITE VOTERS |
AMONG BLACK VOTERS |
|
Appointed Superintendent |
20% |
25% |
17% |
|
Elected Superintendent |
62% |
60% |
63% |
|
Don't Know |
18% |
15% |
20% |
AMONG DISTRICTS AND PARTY AFFILIATIONS
|
SAFER CITY UNDER |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
DEM |
REP |
IND |
|
Appointed Superintendent |
28% |
25% |
19% |
12% |
19% |
21% |
10% |
27% |
|
Elected Superintendent |
52% |
52% |
62% |
71% |
67% |
60% |
76% |
60% |
|
Don't Know |
29% |
23% |
19% |
17% |
14% |
19% |
14% |
13% |
According to VoicePac political strategist Greg Buisson, "Voters in areas with a high concentration of crime are the most willing to change to a police superintendent who answers to them directly. The poll consistently indicates the heightened frustration of voters in Districts D and E on this issue and with mayoral leadership. If the issue of an appointed or elected Superintendent of the NOPD was put to a vote of the people today there would likely be a change in the way we select our city's top lawman."
New Orleans Mayor's race
VoicePac, founded by New Orleans developer and businessman Sidney Torres, will stage the city's first live mayoral debate featuring candidates that polled over 5%, Michael Bagneris, Latoya Cantreel, Desiree Charbonnet and Troy Henry. The debate will take place at Loyola University's Roussel Hall on tonight from 8PM until 9:30PM on WLAE-TV Channel 14 and will be moderated by Alice Stewart of CNN. A live, at-capacity audience of 600 registered New Orleans voters will attend.
