Residents of New Orleans will cast votes tomorrow to determine the city's next mayor. This will be the first major municipal election since Hurricane Katrina devastated most of the city last August 29.
Logistical problems abound for voters since less than half of the city's residents have returned to their homes since the city was evacuated after Katrina struck. The slow progress of the cleanup effort has kept many residents from returning.
Incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin is on the ballot. He has 22 opponents. If nobody receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held on May 20 between the two top vote getters.
The winner will face the difficult challenge of rebuilding a city which is caught in a bureaucratic web between state, local and federal officials. The rebuilding of "The Big Easy" has been a slow and difficult process.
There are approximately 297,000 registered voters in New Orleans but because they are spread out after Katrina, candidates stumped as far off as Atlanta and Houston to take their message to the people.
'It's a challenge for democracy, in my opinion,' Nagin told the Associated Press. 'It's the first time you've had a local citywide election that has statewide scope as well as national scope.'
Nagin has attempted to paint himself as someone who stayed and fought to get the city help.
'I did the tough things. I fussed. I cussed. I got on the president, the governor, got things moving,' Nagin said Friday.
The mayor also made his share of controversial statements including remarks that New Orleans would always remain a 'chocolate city.'
Some 20,000 people have already sent in absentee ballots. It may take some time before the winner or the two candidates who will be in the runoff is announced.
