With the 2020 presidential race quickly approaching, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has found himself at the heart of discussions across the nation. Political pundits are predicting the “monument man” to throw his hat in the ring as a dark horse candidate for the Democratic Party.
In response to the persistent rumors, Mayor Landrieu took time away from his demanding book tour schedule for In The Shadows of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History to hold a remote press conference today to address the issue.
Below is an excerpt from Mayor Landrieu’s remarks:
“I know it’s a question that has been on everyone’s mind lately. And I fully intend to answer that question. You can rest assured that I have thought long and hard about this issue. After speaking with my family and several people close to me, I’ve decided to make public my plans for the future.
“I am focused only on what I can do right here, right now,” said Mayor Landrieu as he signed copies of his new book at a Barnes & Noble in Atlanta.
Over the last several months I’ve put all my energy and the city’s full resources into developing a strategic plan to help me avoid answering questions about my future and the presidential race in 2020.
This comprehensive plan, developed by the brightest minds our state’s educational and political system has to offer, will give me the ability to effectively deflect any and all questions pertaining to my possible run for president and allow me to continue focusing on the job at hand.
Look, I love New Orleans. There’s no better city in the world than New Orleans and I am the mayor of that city. I’m happy here and plan to be here. If there’s one thing I can tell you it’s that I, or someone representing me, will be at my office in City Hall tomorrow doing the job I was elected to do.
I am focused only on what I can do right here, right now. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
To find out more about the Landrieu’s strategic plan for avoiding questions about the race for president, you can email the mayor’s office at dontanswer@nola.gov.