A recall of New Orleans Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell has failed due to a large number of petition signatures being deemed invalid, according to The Associated Press.
Most of the petition’s 67,000 signatures were deemed invalid by the registrar, leaving the petition short by roughly 18,000 signatures to recall the mayor, the AP reported. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards declared that just 27,243 were valid, while the petition would need 44,975 to become effective.
“Now, with the divisiveness of the failed recall campaign officially behind us, we must heal and recommit ourselves to working collaboratively to continue the progress we’ve made towards reducing crime, increasing public safety, building a more sustainable and resilient city and creating economic and job opportunities that benefit all of our people,” Cantrell said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The signatures could have been declared invalid for many reasons, like being mislabeled, having signatures dated after the due date, containing wrong or profane information and having duplicate signatures, according to the AP. (RELATED: Dem Mayor May Be Recalled As Murder Rate Soars, Trash Floods Streets)
According to the governor of Louisiana, the effort to recall Mayor Latoya Cantrell in New Orleans has failed, lacking the verified signatures to proceed. pic.twitter.com/W8fbZ8OwVA
— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) March 21, 2023
Cantrell characterized the recall effort as an attempt by the Republican Party to attack a black, female office-holder, according to the AP. She became New Orleans’ first female mayor in 2018, and the city’s residents Belden Batiste and Eileen Carter launched the petition in August – the same year she entered her second term – and submitted their signatures on Feb. 22.
“My administration has always remained focused on addressing the real pressing issues that face our city,” Cantrell said in a statement provided to the DCNF.
The mayor has presided over several challenges since her reelection, including crime waves, issues with street projects and garbage pick-up, the AP reported. Cantrell has also faced speculation regarding her travel expenses, with the City Council investigating her use of public funds.
“As a former member of the New Orleans City Council and a twice-elected mayor, I have always respected and believed deeply in the democratic process. The right of the people to use their voice to express concerns are hallmarks of a strong, functioning democracy. New Orleans is a strong community that continues to make meaningful progress each day. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the residents of New Orleans for trusting in my leadership and believing that, for New Orleans, the best is truly yet to come,” Cantrell said in a statement provided to the DCNF.
Cantrell’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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