November 4, 2008 6:06 PM
Who will lead Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district?
by Maggie Kerkman
A former Seminarian, an anchor and an indicted congressman. It sounds like the beginnings of a bad joke, as in, “Three people walk into a bar… ” But this is no joke. One of these people will lead Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional district. By the end of the day, we’ll be one step closer to finding out which one.
The Indicted Congressman, you’ve probably already know. Remember the money in the freezer guy? That’s U.S. Representative William Jefferson. Federal investigators claim that was bribe money in the icebox. Jefferson’s awaiting trial on corruption charges. Despite the indictment, Jefferson managed to come out as one of the two Democrats headed for a runoff today. To those of us not well acquainted with the peculiarities of Louisiana politics, it’s tempting to say, “What gives? How in the world does an indicted politician get anywhere near the top of the heap?”
Jefferson’s challenger today, Helena Moreno, says that’s why she got into the race. Up until March, she was an anchor at a T.V. station in New Orleans. Moreno says she got tired of reading the headlines and having New Orleans be a laughing stock. So Moreno decided to get up from behind the anchor desk, fork over a lot of her own money, and run for office. When I met her, she was standing on a busy street corner with several of her supporters, waving at commuters as they drove home. Moreno at least has some name recognition going for her. She managed to edge out a bunch of other, better known, local Democratic politicos in the election last month. Jefferson came in first with 25%. Moreno was next with 20%, assuring her a spot in today’s election.
Whoever wins tonight will face the man who could have become a Catholic priest. Republican Anh “Joseph” Cao has probably one of the more interesting personal stories around. He and his family fled their native Vietnam to make a home here in the U.S. He graduated from college, became a Jesuit and was training for the priesthood. He’s fluent in four languages and has a law degree. How does one go from candidate for Jesuit priest to Republican candidate for Congress? Cao recalls when he was having a crisis of faith and turned to another Jesuit for advice. Cao’s question was a common one, “How can God allow bad things to happen?” The other man’s response was that God sends good people to help. Cao now feels that his mission is to improve the world in this way– through politics.
Barring some big surprise, it’s doubtful Moreno or Cao will get a chance, at least in this go ’round. One poll expects Jefferson to get 58% of today’s vote and no one seems to consider Cao or the other candidates in the election in December to be a real challenge. I’d like to be able to give you some insight on Congressman Jefferson, but in the few stories we’ve done on him, he’s always declined our interview requests. Perhaps he’s best represented by one of his supporters, Valerie Schexnayder. We met her more than a year ago, on a separate story, the anniversary of Katrina. She had the lone home (a FEMA trailer) on a lonely road in the 9th ward. Schexnadyder’s smart. And she’s frustrated. During the past three years, she’s had to jump through all kinds of hoops to get her obliterated home rebuilt. Her explanation of Jefferson’s success is simple. “People went to him for Road Home money and he actually worked hard, ” she says. With help from Jefferson, Schexnayder has been back in her new home for three months. It’s one of only two now on the block. Before we hang up, Schexnadyer says, “My thing is, you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty.” That statement seems to be ringing true with a lot of voters in the 2nd District.
