Jackie Clarkson Wins the Council At Large Seat

Jackie Clarkson, a former council member and state legislator, defeated Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis, the District E representative who ran with the backing of Mayor Ray Nagin and three of her council colleagues. Willard-Lewis did not have to give up her district seat to run.

The election was called to fill the position vacated in August by Oliver Thomas, who resigned after pleading guilty to federal felony charges of accepting bribes from ex-political operative, ex-restaurateur and convicted felon, Stan "Pampy" Barre.

Charles Foti Out As Attorney General

Unable to withstand the fallout from two Katrina-related prosecutions, Attorney General Charles Foti narrowly missed a runoff that will leave the former Orleans criminal sheriff out of public life for the first time in three decades.

Foti fell short of second place in a three-man field, with Republican Royal Alexander, a Shreveport lawyer, emerging to face primary leader James "Buddy" Caldwell, a Democrat and longtime district attorney from Tallulah. The two will meet in a battle sure to be vitriolic, judging from the increasingly caustic tone of the campaign leading up to Saturday's vote.