NEW ORLEANS – Young professional groups that have thrived in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina are hoping to have a big impact on not only the outcome of the mayoral election, but on setting the agenda for the city over the next four years.
After surveying more than 800 young professionals, they unveiled their job qualifications for the next mayor Thursday.
The group is both racially and political diverse, and includes New Orleanians such as Carolina Hernandez.
“I think the only reason the city has risen is because of its residents,” she said.
Hernandez is a commercial architect who started a French Quarter-based firm just months after Katrina.
“The history of New Orleans is, oh, let's just let the status quo continue and we don't want that anymore,” Hernandez said.
She is one of many young professionals playing a new-found leadership role in the city.
“We are demanding the leadership that this city deserves,” said Hernandez.
Young professionals are uniting in under the banner "EngageNOLA" to try and rally young voters to pick the best mayor for New Orleans in February.
“It's the largest bloc of registered voters in the city right now, so it really has the power to sway the next election. However, it does not have that power if we polarize that demographic or splinter it in any way by endorsing a specific candidate or taking a stance on a specific issue,” said EngageNOLA Co-Chairman Miji Park.
After surveying 850 young professionals, the group came up with a job qualification list for the next mayor, a document they released at a press conference Thursday. Some qualifications are: strong understanding of the city's home rule charter, true leadership and the ability to unite New Orleans' diverse population.
They also want a big fan of New Orleans' professional sports teams like the Saints professional football team, something that could affect what they're trying to do.
“The Superbowl is the day after the primary election. It is a big concern for us and that is why we're really engaging with our get out the vote task force to use text messages and phone calls to tell some people where they should vote, what day they should vote,” Park said.
The group is also putting together an online collection of video clips of what they want to see in the next mayor, and according to the groups co-chairmen, they plan on making sure the new mayor keeps those qualifications throughout the next four years.
The group is also having Thursday night sessions with each mayoral candidate to allow young professionals to engage the candidates and find out more extensive information about their positions.
