He's been called Ray Na-gone, the disappearing mayor and there is even a website poking fun at the perception of his absence.

So just where has the mayor been and what has he been doing? 

To help find out, early this year, Eyewitness News put in a public records request with the city for a copy of Nagin's mayoral calendar or schedule for all of 2007, specifically asking for every city appointment, meeting, and trip for last year. 

A few weeks ago Eyewitness News received 56 pages of his schedule -  of 2007, and with the help of some political analysts and a few city hall insiders who spoke off the record, we analyzed what the mayor's been doing.

“If I were the mayor, I would be a little embarrassed that this was my schedule,” said political analyst Clancy DuBos.

“It's a typical mayoral schedule,” countered analyst Gary Clark. “(It’s) very occupied, very busy and he seems to have a lot on the plate.”

This subjective review of his schedule revealed at most 25 trips for the year, seven to the nation's capital.

“I don't think there's an excessive amount of travel on city business,” said DuBos. “That's part of a mayor's job.”

That travel includes only two trips to Dallas - one in April, the other July. Neither had any city business scheduled. The number of trips confirms what the mayor told Eyewitness News last month. When questioned about it, he said he goes to Dallas about every four to six months.

The schedule shows that rumors about Nagin's family living in Dallas are also false.

In March, July and September Nagin went to school and camp functions in New Orleans for his daughter. Beginning in May, many Fridays included lunch with his wife.

On January 11 of last year, as thousands of New Orleanians marched on city hall, the mayor promised a new commitment to fighting crime.

“My pledge to the citizens of New Orleans is that everything I do going forward as your mayor will be focused on making sure that murders become a thing of the past in our city,” he said at the time.

His schedule shows that the next day, Friday, January 12, Nagin had three crime-related meetings.  But the next mention of crime on his calendar came two weeks later - on the 26^th, and it was not a meeting but a press announcement where he gave a crime update.

“The mayor seems disengaged and the schedule seems to reveal that,” said DuBos.

DuBos says that's apparent in the schedule at the end of April. 

“On April 30 of last year, which was the opening day of the legislative session, there's not even a mention that week that the legislature was in session.”

Nagin did meet with the Orleans legislative delegation on Friday of that week but had just a few appointments each day during the start of the session.

“He's got four things on this calendar on Monday, April 30,” said DuBos. “The first one is noon.  How many CEOs show up at the office at noon?”

But Dillard political science professor Dr. Gary Clark says Nagin's infrequent visits with lawmakers may be part of his strategy.

“That becomes a question of style,” he said. “In the past we've had individuals who are mayors who came out of the Baton Rouge environment. This mayor's approach is if you put together a strong legislative team that may not be necessary.”

Continue reading report.