Saying she wants to help move the city forward, former municipal court judge Desiree Charbonnet, became the third candidate to officially announce her candidacy for mayor at an event Monday (May 22) night.
Charbonnet, who earlier this years said she planned to run for a seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to local media reports, says she city’s challenges compel her to run for mayor instead.
“I run not because I think it will be easy,” she said. “I know it will be hard, but because of the lives of our children depend on it.”
Former civil district court Judge Michael Bagneris announced his plan to run for mayor earlier this month. And City Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell made her plans public in late March with an announcement on her website.
Qualifying for the race takes place July 12-14, with the primary election set for Oct. 14
Though he has not made any official state, it is highly anticipated that state Rep. Walt Leger will run for mayor.
A native of New Orleans, Charbonnet graduated from Cabrini High School and earned her bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees from Loyola University.
“In a city where 25 percent of our adults can’t read beyond a 4th grade level, unemployed parents struggle to nourish their hungry children, and non-violent defendants are thrown into prison and court system designed to punish and profit off of the most vulnerable in our community, it is impossible for me to sit on the sidelines,” Charbonnet said. “It’s just not in my DNA. And when I think of the compassionate citizenry that united under Hurricane Katrina, I know we can all do more – together. That is why . . . I am compelled and proud to announce my candidacy for mayor of New Orleans
