With qualifying now complete, seven candidates will compete to fill the Louisiana House of Representatives seat (HD 93) formerly occupied by Royce Duplessis who was elected to the state senate late last year. The winner of the race will run again for a full four-year term in the fall of 2023.
First to throw her hat in the ring was Sibal “Fox Rich” Richardson, a formerly incarcerated woman who now runs Rich Ministries along with her husband Rob. The Richardson’s were the subject of the documentary Time, which was nominated for an Academy Award. They are prison reform advocates and work with families who have been impacted by incarceration.
Other candidates include former School Board President Seth Bloom who, if elected, would be the first openly gay legislator. Bloom, a lawyer, is married to businessman Gary Solomon and is the father of a four-month-old daughter Twyla. They are expecting a second child this summer. Bloom barely lost the race for City Council District B to Jay Banks.
A resident of the Warehouse District, Steven Kennedy is a small business owner, planner and community advocate. A board member of the New Orleans Business Alliance and the city’s Industrial Development Board, Kennedy is also a real estate developer and HANO landlord. He was formerly incarcerated on a drug charge and pled guilty for domestic violence 10 years ago. Kennedy has been active in voter registration.
The owner of Backatown Coffee Parlour on Basin Street, Alonzo Knox served in the U.S. Marine Corp until 2006 and formerly worked for the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation. A resident of Treme, he ran for City Council District C two years ago. Knox served on the Historic Districts Landmarks Commission. Knox’s Ballotpedia profile lists him as a “readjustment specialist.”
Morgan Clevenger, the long-time leader of the Fairgrounds Triangle Neighborhood Association, is known for frequently speaking out on issues important to her, including crime. A small business owner, Clevenger ran for the City Council District D two years ago. She wants to lift up all the district’s neighborhoods by focusing on systemic issues like housing, education and crime.
“Naj” Wallace, also known as Tenaj L. Jackson, is a television, theater and movie actress who played the role of Lynette Beaulieu in HBO’s Treme television series, Pony in Django Unchained, and Sally in American Horror Story. Wallace operates a small food bank outside her Touro Street home and is a massage therapist.
Faubourg Marigny restaurant manager Matt Hill is the only Republican in the race. Hill ran for mayor twice as a Democrat and is of Hispanic descent. He joined the Republican Party in part because he believes Republicans better support their candidates.
The election will be held Saturday, February 18, three days before Fat Tuesday. Voter registration for the race is open through January 18. Early voting begins February 4 and ends February 11. Citizens are urged to vote early or by mail to avoid Mardi Gras parade traffic.
