Sans Lewis, Roche Judge Event Brought Unexpected Benefits
Both Levine and Hutabarat were in attendance
Everyone reading these words knows that Davante Lewis has earned our disdain. He ambushed an incumbent on a powerful but little-known commission with millions in out-of-state funding, giving Big Renewable a foothold in Louisiana government. He’s a self-absorbed narcissist suffering from Napoleon Complex who posts far too many pictures of himself - only himself - on far too many social media sites. He’s a Marxist Trojan Horse, the functionary of a strategy that seeks to work around the legislature and obligate the state to unreliable and ill-fitted energy production systems. He’s a threat to our economy.
So of course we were very disappointed when Davante was nowhere to be seen at the LGBTQ+ campaign event yesterday for Judge Candidate Leon Roche. Lewis had been billed as a co-host of the event.
Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, because, as it happened, everyone assumed I attended in support of Mr Roche, allowing me free discussion and full access all afternoon. Had Lewis been in attendance, he’d surely have told the others that I’m a “troll” and I should be avoided.
I told no one that I am a Conservative activist and community organizer.
Truthfully, everyone was just wonderful - they presumed I’m an ‘ally.’ And it’s a reminder to me that most politicians - Lewis not among these - are as sincere and kind in person as they’d be in any other occupation. Locally, people run for office out of a sense of caring and a willingness to improve things.
Among the three judge candidates I met yesterday, this seems to hold true, as each spoke to me with passion and conviction, and with kindness.
In a move that inspires respect, Simone Levine - an opponent of Roche - dropped in on the event. She worked the room, spoke with everyone, handed out her campaign material. Leon Roche was a bit surprised, but he rolled with it. I spoke with Ms Levine, and was struck by her sense of dedication to the community.
She wants to keeps victims and the people in the community front and center; she’s a victim of crime herself. She’s well-spoken and personally impressive. Among the three Democrat candidates for judge, section A, she has my vote.
From nola.com/The Advocate:
After serving for four years as the deputy police monitor for the office that oversees the New Orleans Police Department’s use-of-force cases, Levine became the director of Court Watch NOLA, a local watchdog group that observes and reports on New Orleans’ courts. She currently is an assistant district attorney for Orleans Parish, where she was part of the prosecution team that secured a conviction in the shooting death of New Orleans Police Officer Marcus McNeil. This is her first run for office.
I also enjoyed meeting Marissa Hutabarat who is hoping to move from her current role as 1st City Court judge to Civil District Court. A native of Chicago, she came to New Orleans to attend Loyola Law School. She is kind and personable, articulate, and seems quite dedicated to her work and willingness to serve.
Again, from nola.com/The Advocate:
In 2020, Hutabarat, also a Democrat, won the race for 1st City Court judge in New Orleans, where she currently serves. She was unchallenged for the same seat in 2022. Previously, she worked as a civil litigator, working on the lawsuit against the Hard Rock Hotel developers, and as a clerk for three Louisiana judges.
And of course I met and spoke one-on-one with Mr Roche. He seems sincere, emphasizing that his father owned a small business in Gretna for 30 years, that he is the first in his family to have attended and graduated college.
But he’s a criminal defense attorney who enjoys the endorsement of Ben Crump, the famously race-baiting ambulance chaser who’s seemingly on the scene of every controversial police shooting in the country. And Roche’s ties to Lewis are an automatic disqualification.
Though a consequence of the process of elimination - we’d prefer a Conservative, of course - we can walk away from the event with a better understanding of the candidates and an affirmation that Levine is the best of the three.
Diedre Pierce Kelly, also in the Criminal Court District A race, did not attend.
As nola.com/The Advocate describes her:
Pierce Kelly works as an attorney for Spears & Spears and as chief of staff for New Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas. Previously, Pierce Kelly worked as a legislative assistant to former state Sen. Wesley Bishop. Pierce Kelly ran in 2020 for the Section K seat in Criminal District Court, but was disqualified from the primary race; her disqualification stemmed from a 19-month suspension after she admitted she forged Ike Spears’ name on notarized documents.
We won’t deny the personal satisfaction it provides to rag on Lewis, but in the end, his absence yesterday was a net positive. Meeting the three candidates advanced our efforts… we work for you, remember, as we were proud to represent you ‘incognito’ at an event that deserved all our attention.