And this time, let's decide NOT to be fooled by Jay Batt again.

Yes, it's true: each and every one of the primary authors of this site voted for Jay Batt in his defeat of Scott Shea in 2002. Why? Because we believed his campaign promises, when he told us to our faces and in forum after forum, that he supported our concerns and issues.

"I've evolved," he says this time around. "I'm changing." Don't believe it.

Just send an email to anybodybutbatt@yahoo.com with your name, address and phone number, and the number of yard signs and stickers you need, and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Signs are being stolen at an extraordinary rate, and while we have plenty of replacements, we are advising people to attach them to something sturdy wherever possible. What kind of people would do such a thing, you may well wonder...

Batt is supported by the owners of dilapidated properties on Jeff Davis near Canal and by Vincent Marcello, Jr., whose blighted houses are covered with Batt’s campaign signs.
Attachment:   Click here for more information (PDF)

When Jay Batt first ran for office, he promised to end "consultant contracts," where friends of politicians are hired to lobby for government contracts. However, once Batt was in office, his associates began receiving consulting contracts. Now, the TP has revealed that Batt buddy Bryan Wagner has a contract to receive 3.2% of all fines collected from motorists caught by red light cameras installed in Jefferson Parish. Wagner, who has been joined at the hip with Batt in everything from Bruno’s Bar to society balls, is a former City Councilman and insurance executive who has a history of earning large fees by selling insurance contracts to public entities. In 2005, the State Ethics Board condemned the practice of splitting fees from insurance contracts, a practice that earned an 11-member "commission," of which Wagner was a member, a total of $500,000 in 2005. Wagner has now apparently moved into the traffic camera business.

Big Profits from Camera Contract
On January 26, 2010, the TP reported that Wagner was hired by Redflex Traffic Systems of Phoenix, AZ, to lobby the Jefferson Parish Council for a contract to install and manage traffic cameras at nine Jefferson Parish locations. Wagner had his associate, Julie Murphy, wife of Jefferson Parish Judge Robert Murphy, lobby for Redflex in meetings with various Jefferson Parish Councilmembers. Wagner’s 3.2% of the $19.7 million dollars in fines collected thus far adds up to over $600,000, and if the revenues continue at the current rate, Wagner can expect to take in approximately $300,000 a year.

Despite his claims of spending his time out of office for the past four years working for the good of the citizens of New Orleans and District A, Jay Batt has actually been spending the last four years building himself a new house and "carefully building the foundation of a political comeback".

Reprinted in part from a BayouBuzz.com article that appeared July 17, 2009

New Orleans District A Councilwoman Shelley Midura surprised some by her announcement that she would not run for a second term. The man who would have been her likely opponent, former Councilman Jay Batt, immediately sent a statement that commended Midura’s efforts—and all but telegraphed a likely run regardless.

In an extended statement on Wednesday, Midura wrote, “After much thought and reflection, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the District "A" City Council seat in 2010. Having experienced first-hand the challenges of running a long-shot campaign in 2006, I wanted to make this decision publicly as early as possible for the benefit of potential candidates in District ‘A’ so they may have enough time to decide whether to seek election. I believe the City Council will benefit from continued new blood at the dais and look forward to supporting a candidate who will pick up the mantle of reform and continue the march toward good government.”

Midura, known as one of the most outspoken members of the Council went on to bemoan the political ambition found in her fellow politicians. “My personal goal for public service never was to build a Midura family political machine. Indeed, career public servants too often forget that "service" is to the public, rather than to themselves. Too often the political courage needed to confront the most difficult decisions we as public officials must make is compromised in the quest for re-election or election to the next public office.”

A new radio spot, reviewing Jay's record in some important respects

Click here for audio clip