By Frank Donze, The Times-Picayune, March 04, 2010

In his bid to reclaim the District A seat on the New Orleans City Council he lost four years ago, Republican businessman Jay Batt has tried to link ACORN, the controversial anti-poverty group under federal investigation, to Democrat Susan Guidry, his opponent in Saturday's runoff.

But Guidry, a lawyer, turned the tables on him during a Tuesday night forum by reminding the 100 or so residents in attendance that Batt ran with ACORN's enthusiastic support during his failed re-election bid four years ago.

Batt vehemently denied the charge.

"I've never had the endorsement of ACORN. I've never paid them," Batt said, according to an account of the Tuesday meeting in Lakeview by Gambit editor Kevin Allman. "I've never been part of them. It's not even in my vernacular. So . . . it's untrue."

After the meeting, Gambit posted a story online that cited an entry from Batt's 2006 campaign blog that headlined the ACORN endorsement in bold type. The 2006 posting included a statement from Batt that said he would be "proud" to work with the group "on finding common ground."

On Wednesday, Batt issued a statement acknowledging that he had "unintentionally" erred in those comments.

"The question is irrelevant to this election," Batt wrote. "My campaign has never stated that Susan Guidry is endorsed by ACORN. Nor is my campaign endorsed by ACORN for this election."

But a mailer the Batt campaign sent out last week highlights an endorsement Guidry has received from the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union. Local SEIU officials are staunch advocates of unionizing New Orleans restaurant workers -- an issue that presumably would be unpopular with Batt's Republican base.

While Batt's campaign flier does not say explicitly that Guidry has the backing of ACORN, it mentions the organization six times.

Quoting from a Wall Street Journal article, the Batt mailer points out that SEIU was a "major backer of ACORN," contributing more than $4 million to the group.

It also refers to a Washington Post account of the infamous episode where ACORN officials were caught on tape offering advice to members of an alleged prostitution ring about how to cheat on federal income taxes, and it highlights a New York Times story about the federal probe into irregularities stemming from an ACORN voter registration drive in the last presidential race.

Finally, the flier asks voters to "connect the dots" between SEIU, ACORN and Guidry.

At the forum, Guidry said that, as the Democrat in the race, she was the de facto choice for unions. But she denied ever getting or seeking support from ACORN.

The ACORN flap is just one example of the bad blood flowing between Batt and Guidry, who are seeking to succeed Shelley Midura, who is not running for re-election. Midura, a Democrat who defeated Batt in 2006, has endorsed Guidry.

In a recent mailer, Guidry accuses Batt of leading the charge to "turn back" President Barack Obama's policies. As evidence, Guidry features an "anti-Obama checklist" that cites Batt's financial support for GOP nominee Sen. John McCain in the 2008 race for the White House and Batt's position as chairman of the Orleans Parish Republican Party.

Batt fired back Wednesday with an e-mail blast titled "Guidry is Wrong for District A."

In the piece, Batt revisits her endorsement from SEIU and the organization's desire to unionize hospitality industry workers. Batt charges that the union effort "would weaken the strongest job market in the city, undermine employers, and put hotels, restaurants and bars out of business."

Batt closes his message by comparing his work as a councilman with Guidry's work for her own homeowners association and his career as a businessman with hers as a lawyer. He also takes a parting shot at Midura.

"While I've created jobs, Susan Guidry has made a living suing people," he wrote. "While I've fought for safer streets, Susan Guidry's mentor was fighting with the NOPD and district attorney. Susan Guidry is a liar and a self-serving politician of the worst type -- the type that will say anything to get elected and exploit the voters for her own gain."

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