John Alario (D) (Senator-elect in Senate District 8)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 6,135 (69%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 2,749 (31%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 6,341 (62%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 3,874 (38%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 6,189 (44%)
John Kerry (D) 7,795 (55%)
Others 125 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 5,360 (40%)
Chris John (D) 4,337 (33%)
Others 3,594 (27%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 675 (17%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,597 (40%)
Mike Francis (R) 292 (7%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 1,176 (29%)
Others 285 (7%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 3,795 (45%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,396 (16%)
John Georges (I) 2,561 (30%)
Foster Campbell (D) 497 (8%)
Others 174 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 4,308 (56%)
Mike Strain (R) 2,007 (26%)
Wayne Carter (R) 1,058 (14%)
Don Johnson (R) 350 (5%)

Though Jefferson Parish has been typecast as predominately Republican suburbia, there is actually considerable economic and racial diversity. District 83 is one of the more Democratic districts. It is located on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish and includes Westwego and suburbs (Bridge City, Avondale, Waggaman) between Westwego and the St. Charles Parish line. Its predominance of African-American and blue-collar neighborhoods makes this a safely Democratic district. It is currently 38% African-American (up from 35% several years ago) and has had very little growth in recent years. In fact, the little growth it had was offset by losses in the voter population since Katrina.

Normally, Democrats can count on receiving over 60% of the vote in contested races here. George Bush did cut a bit into normal Democratic margins here by receiving 44% of the vote, and David Vitter actually received a 40% plurality in the district. He would almost certainly NOT have carried the district, however, had he faced unified Democratic opposition.

Since the district was created after the 1970 census, John Alario has been its only representative. The only time in recent memory he received opposition was in 1995; even then, he was re-elected with 70% of the vote. In his long tenure in the state House Rep. Alario has made himself a major player. He was Speaker of the House for two of the four terms Edwin Edwards was governor. Recently, he has chaired the Appropriations Committee. Though close to former governor Edwards, John Maginnis once noted in 1995 that he “excels at counting votes and massaging a consensus, based on his continuous communication with House members, both in and out of session.”

For the first time ever, this part of Jefferson Parish will have a contested race in 2007, when term-limited Representative Alario runs for Chris Ullo’s term-limited state senate seat. Due to the current and future demographics of the district, we rate this race as a “Democratic hold.” There are two Democrats and a Republican running: Westwego Mayor Robert Billiot, African-American attorney Ron Austin, and attorney (and lone Republican) Danyelle Taylor.

This part of the Westbank received some damage, but not to the extent that areas further to the east did. We do see, however, that if large areas of New Orleans (like the 9th Ward) can’t be rebuilt any time soon, areas like this district may become attractive to displaced Orlenians as a relatively affordable place to live.