BATT WAKES GOP: The message from the movers and shakers in the city's Republican Party was loud and clear: They are committed to taking back the District A seat on the City Council that they lost in 2006 after a run of more than a quarter-century.

A who's who of the local GOP hierarchy was out in force Thursday morning to lend support to businessman and former Councilman Jay Batt, who won the seat in 2002 but saw his re-election bid derailed by upstart Democrat Shelley Midura.

Now that Midura has announced she will not seek a second term, Batt appears to be the candidate to beat -- and his fellow Republicans will be there to help. Only Mid-City civic activist Virginia Blanque, who in recent years has been registered as a Republican, has said she will challenge Batt for the seat representing the western swath of the city from Lakeview to Uptown.

Joining Batt as he announced his candidacy on the second floor of City Park's casino building were three of the four Republican council members who preceded him as the District A representative.

Bryan Wagner and Suzanne Haik Terrell were seated in the audience. And Scott Shea -- a onetime Batt nemesis -- stepped to the podium to introduce the candidate. Only Peggy Wilson, who held the seat from 1986 to 1994, was absent.

The appearance by Shea was the most notable. After Shea defeated Batt in a bitter and expensive special election in 2000, Batt returned the favor in 2002 by ousting Shea in an equally contentious race.

In the first contest, Shea ran a radio ad comparing Batt with former state representative and Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Batt struck back, accusing Shea of being an "out-and-out liar" and "a perfect politician because he speaks with a forked tongue."

But on Thursday, it was all smiles.

"Certainly everyone in this room knows Jay and I had political differences," Shea told the crowd of about three dozen. "But one thing we have always shared is a great love for this city and a commitment to making this great city even better."

Besides the ex-council members, other Republican luminaries on hand included former state Rep. Peppi Bruneau, developer Robert Lupo and Jefferson Parish Councilman John Young.

Also in attendance were Batt's brother, actor Bryan Batt; Georges; and insurance executive Leslie Jacobs, who is considering a mayoral run.

NO PEACE PIPE: While Batt and Shea appear to have mended fences, that's not the case with Batt and the leader of the political action committee that played a role in defeating Batt in 2006.

As Batt's supporters arrived Thursday, lawyer Keith Hardie, leader of the group that dubs itself Anybody But Batt, stood at the entrance to City Park, where he waved a sign promoting his movement.

Hardie had put out an e-mail call for volunteers the day before, but he apparently was able to muster only one ally.

Asked whether he was concerned that Hardie was once again mounting a campaign to defeat him, Batt said he has offered "olive branches" to the organization but has received no response.

"I'm open to sit down and talk with them," Batt said. "I don't understand their issues because they don't communicate. If you don't communicate, how can you get things done?"

Hardie and others associated with his group have said their hostility toward Batt stems from pro-development decisions he made in zoning and land-use cases during his four years on the council.

Hardie acknowledged that he has been asked to join the Batt campaign. But he said there's no chance of that happening.

"People know how Jay voted the last time, and a lot of people weren't happy with those decisions," Hardie said by e-mail. "If he made poor decisions when he was in office last time, why should we expect better decisions if he is re-elected? Jay has the unenviable task of proving he's changed."

From Times-Picayune article by Michelle Krupa and Frank Donze, 10/23/09