NEW ORLEANS, La. – An Eyewitness News poll shows incumbent Arnie Fielkow ahead in the race for two positions in the council at-large race.
The 500 voters polled in the Eyewitness News survey gave Fielkow 55 percent of the vote. Incumbent Jackie Clarkson was second among those polled with 38 percent and current District E Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis was close behind with 35 percent.
“Fielkow is out in front and he runs a strong race,” said pollster Ron Faucheux. “Even though Clarkson is running in second place, Cynthia Willard-Lewis… is really within striking distance and I think poses a threat in this election.”
All of the other candidates placed in the single digits, while 14 percent of those questioned were undecided.
The scientific survey found that Fielkow scores well among whites, blacks, men and women.
“The fact that he has crossover appeal like that is giving him a good percentage of the vote,” said Faucheux.
Clarkson performed well among white voters, but also has a good cross over of African-American voters.
Willard-Lewis performed highly among African-American voters.
“She has a strong base among African-Americans in town,” said Faucheux. “She’s in a strong position to mount a very serious challenge.”
Fielkow was given the highest favorable rating and the lowest unfavorable rating among those running for council-at-large.
Clarkson had the second best numbers.
“Fielkow is very popular,” said Faucheux. “He has an extremely high positive rating and a low negative.”
Cynthia Willard-Lewis comes in third with 57 percent of voters giving her a favorable rating and 26 percent an unfavorable rating. Faucheux said most of her favorable ratings came from African-Americans.
So far the race has been fairly low key with no strong attacks.
Faucheux said Willard-Lewis and the others trailing Fielkow and Clarkson may have to change that if they hope to win a seat on council-at-large.
“Usually when people are behind, they need to change the dynamic of the race,” said Faucheux. “That’s the challenge of all of the other candidates who are looking at the at-large situation.”
A question has been raised about WWL-TV mayoral pollster Ron Faucheux and his past professional relationship with Sen. Mary Landrieu.
WWL-TV news was aware of Faucheux's past work with Landrieu. WWL-TV news management discussed that relationship with Faucheux prior to the commissioning of the mayoral poll. WWL-TV news is confident in Faucheux's objectivity, professionalism and methodology regarding the mayoral poll.
