NOLAFugees.com: The Essential Five

THE ESSENTIAL 5	James Arey	Nick Bacque	Manny Chevrolet	Mac Rahman	Leo Watermeier	Shedrick White	Peggy Wilson	Virginia Boulet
1. The Editorial Board of NOLAFugees.com advocates secession for the city of New Orleans. While they do not expect any candidate to endorse such a plan, they would like to know whose face you would most like to see on our new currency.	Becky Allen	The Baroness Pontalba	Ernie K-DOE because we love Ernie. He’s an unqualified candidate for mayor because he’s dead. Since I’m not invited to any of the debates, we thought about having a debate between the statue of Ernie K-DOE and me. He might get some votes.	“I like the French. Or a Spaniard. Or a native artist.”	“I’d like to see Rex, King of Carnival, on his royal float. I guess we could have his court on the smaller bills. And we should call all the money doubloons.”	Edwin Edwards. He did a lot for the dollar in this state.	Include St. Bernard Parish in the secession. Bienville	Dutch Morial
2. If elected, would you promise to read “A Bend In the River,” a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul, within 6 months of inauguration? The editorial board of NOLAFugees promises to send you a copy.	Yes. Not only that but A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean because it’s more appropriate to what happened to the city.	Of course!	Yes, if elected, I will. It’s a free book. Sure, I’ll read it.	“That’s the Indian guy, right?….Sure, I’d read it.”	“Why not? I’ll read it if it helps me understand our situation. I’ll read it even if I don’t win, though it seems very dark and heavy, and about ‘the end of civilization’ as we know it, and I don’t believe that’s where we are.”	Sure.	Already read, but if elected, would re-read the book within six months.	Yes, I promise. It’ll be my penance if I win. How many pages is it? Ray Nagin wanted to hire me as the City Librarian, so I guess I should read it.
3. Politicians and weather people are always telling us to have an evacuation plan. What is your evacuation plan?	State of the art satellite phones in the hands of those who need them. Ward leaders who will report to City Council leaders who will report to the Mayor who will report to the Governor etc. People in the neighborhood standing by who have agreed to take care of pets and seniors... S.U.V.’s can even be involved in the process.	Grab the valuables and the loved ones, and head west (early).	My plan is to have a plan. Personally, I’d go on television with two suitcases packed and ready to go and say, “Get the hell out.” As a single guy, I’d stick around. But as Mayor, I’d go on T.V. and say, “I’m getting the hell out of here. You should too.”	“Better coordination with local, state & federal agencies. We have to have another way to get out of the city. Helicopters. We need to improve public transportation.”	“I rented a third floor room at a French Quarter hotel, and felt pretty safe. I’d do the same thing again.”	I’d work with leaders in neighboring cities and states to establish shelters and centers, through FEMA, to accommodate the people who couldn’t leave. We’d transport them by busses... cash drop points, similar to the March of Dimes, at grocery stores and other areas to help fund the centers. Because it’s through FEMA, it gives the federal government the chance to take the lead and respond early.	Practice the Pam Plan, and make modifications as necessary. The Superdome as a refuge of last resort is ludicrous. “Where’s the refuge of first resort?” SPCA should not remove all the cats from neighborhoods because rats are a problem in areas where the cats have been removed.	It’s not enough for police, first responders to prepare for the event of a major storm. City Hall needs to involve citizens, encourage every family to prepare and rehearse evacuation plans. The whole city can practice annually on a “Hurricane Day.” A digital database should be maintained, including the contact information for every family’s evacuation destination.
4. Multiple choice: What is the greatest track to come off the Cash Money record label? “Back That Azz Up,” by Juvenile “Bling Bling,” by B.G. “Project Chick,” by the Cash Money Millionaires “Hennessy and Ecstacy,” by the Big Tymers	Definitely “Bling Bling” by B.G. It relates to the idea of the tax free shopping day in which customers can spend money replacing damaged stuff.	Reminiscing on high school, I'd have to say we had the most fun to Back that Azz Up. Man, those were the days.	Me personally, I gotta go with “Hennessy and Ecstacy.” That’s what I’m all about.	“Can I put my name?”	“Git Ya Roll On” – Manny Fresh, et. al. “I don’t like this kind of music, but I like the message of this song. And I like that it was a real collaborative effort. That says something about the city. It seems to be a tribute to success, it’s optimistic, and I like that, too. I might make it my campaign theme song.”	“Back that Azz Up” by Juvenile	“You Are My Sunshine”	They’re all equally great.
5. Agree or disagree with the following statement: “Faith may be optional, but belief in quasi-public utility monopolies is mandatory.”	Entergy = MC 2	Disagree. I'm the free-market economist of the group.	I disagree with that, totally. Fuck whoever said that. Any time I hear the words “quasi” and “monopoly” I know the public is getting screwed.	“There shouldn’t be a monopoly at all.”	“Unfortunately I agree with it. I think Entergy wants out of here, out of this market. I think the city should look into taking over Entergy New Orleans, fixing it up, and selling it off, whole or in pieces.”	(Laughter) Yeah, I agree with that.	“Ridiculous, and that’s a no.”	I would not rule out municipalizing Entergy.
THE CANDIDATES	James Arey	Nick Bacque	Manny Chevrolet	Mac Rahman	Leo Watermeier	Shedrick White	Peggy Wilson	Virginia Boulet

THE CANDIDATES