Orleans Parish coroner's race-Dwight Mckenna v. Frank Minyard

The race for the New Orleans coroner will be interesting to watch this year. It's getting pretty trashy down at the coroner's office. The prize will be a pretty cushy job for the most part. Considering the long hours and stress that a lot of doctors go through. It's not a bad gig if you can get it.  Which is part of the reason the 80 year old Frank Minyard has held on to the position for almost four decades. With a large staff and little or no over sight in the past from city officials, it's the perfect place to create a fiefdom. Frank Minyard has done just that, in true New Orleans fashion.

His challenger in the race will be the equally as colorful Dwight McKenna. Well known for his precision with a scalpel and equally well known in certain circles outside of the operating room for his passion for politics. While these two candidates have run against each other before,  the political landscape was much different back then. 

article on New Orleans city council race

With all that being said McKenna may have his best chance at becoming the new coroner. Other than the Sheriff's office and a few obscure public officials, minorities are looking at a lack of representation in public office this year. Despite McKenna reaching out to the black community in the past he has yet to cash in on that relationship. Turn it over, flip it, whatever you want to call it. He may benefit from black voters having no strong options in other elections.  

Tired of same old New Orleans politics. Kick it up a level. Check me out on the National scene, I'm in constant contact with White House and their staff. Obama administration .

Having to work harder than most black candidates  through out his political career to appear " black enough ". To truly convey to voters that he has their best interests at heart with out providing lip service, he may need  more than an attack video. He will have to convey a sincere intention to reform the office. With a two man field and one of the candidates being Minyard, he may be the natural choice for some voters. He's gotten every bodies attention. But can he deliver the goods? 

If he fails to knock out a tired and old Dixiecrat legend like Frank Minyard this time, then it may be his last rodeo. 

On the other side of the equation we have Frank Minyard. I'm not going to go into too much detail but most have heard of the recent Federal Investigation involving the burned out car with a dead body. You may have heard of the body parts scandals.  Just go on playing your trumpet Frank. 

I hear there are some videos that McKenna is running with Minyard as Dr.Frankenstein have gone viral. Looks like McKenna wants to win. 

I'm not going to go into another topic here fully because I'm at the end.  I do want to touch on a few things though. As far as the mayor's race I think the black candidates should drop out. Let John Georges, Mitch Landrieu, or Couhig have it.  

Out of these three John Georges is a good enough choice. He should play up the history of corruption in the city a little more. I think that would work in his favor considering his financial status. I remember hearing  that he helped out when St. Lukes Episcopal church purchased their building from the Greek Orthodox church a long time ago. Fair and reasonable, we need some of that. Check out New Orleans mayoral election 2010 candidate list-Landrieu,Georges,Henry,Perry,Ramsey, Couhig.

It's a tough job, it will be even tougher with no blacks in office through out the city. Give the other candidates  a chance to remember  how hard it is to run a city and help them if they ask for help. Murray might have been smart to drop out. He'll be in good position when the smoke clears.

The current crop of black candidates have done an excellent job and increased their name recognition tremendously. The sad fact is the job is not worth it anymore. Not during a recession anyway. Judging from the success of Georges company he must know something nobody else does. No, he's not the best speaker or as polished as we are used to but that is not important now. 

All my soldiers, be cool. There's something strange going on. We're going to figure this thing out.