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Re-elected New Orleans mayor: It's time to heal
SPECIAL REPORT
• Rebuilding: Vital signs
• Gallery: Landmarks over time
• Storm & Flood: Making history
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YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSNEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- In a city struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, newly re-elected Mayor Ray Nagin urged residents of New Orleans to "start the healing process." Nagin fought off a runoff challenge Saturday from Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, winning by about 5,300 votes. Landrieu, a member of a prominent Louisiana political family, conceded the runoff ballot to his fellow Democrat, who had moved ahead in the count after the men were almost tied at the halfway point. (Watch reactions to Nagin's re-election -- :28) "This is a great day for the city of New Orleans," Nagin said at his campaign headquarters. "This election is over, and it's time for this community to start the healing process." The mayor thanked President Bush for the federal government's assistance to the Crescent City -- despite having blasted the president in the immediate aftermath of Katrina for not doing enough to help those affected by the storm. "You and I have probably been the most vilified politicians in the country. But I want to thank you for moving that promise you made in Jackson Square forward," Nagin said of the president's September 15 speech from the city's French Quarter, in which he pledged to "do what it takes" to rebuild New Orleans in the wake of Katrina. "We now have $3 billion for levees," Nagin said. "We have $8 billion for incentives. We have $10 billion for housing. You are delivering on your promise, and I want to thank you for all of the citizens of the city of New Orleans." With all of the city's 442 polling stations reporting, Nagin won 59,460 votes (52 percent) to Landrieu's 54,131 (48 percent) -- a difference of 5,329, according to the secretary of state's office. About 24,000 absentee ballots were sent in by residents who were relocated to other cities after Hurricane Katrina. The Associated Press reported that Nagin won majority-black precincts and Landrieu majority-white ones, but Nagin also attracted significant crossover support in predominantly white precincts in Uptown New Orleans. The lead switched hands several times during the count in the contest for who will lead the hurricane-ravaged city through reconstruction. Landrieu, who had been endorsed by the New Orleans newspaper, told his supporters it was a hard-fought but fair campaign, and urged people to support Nagin during the rebuilding of New Orleans. "We have an opportunity ... to put away the twin cousins of race and poverty, and to replace them with the siblings of opportunity and responsibility," he told his supporters. (Watch candidates react to results -- 1:38 ) The race was marked by friendly tones between the candidates and agreement on the major issues facing the city, which was smashed by Hurricane Katrina in August. Nagin and Landrieu were forced into a runoff after neither man snared the necessary 50 percent of votes to take the city's helm in the general election that had 22 candidates, including two Republicans. Nagin, 49, who was a cable company executive before becoming mayor, argued during the campaign that with recovery efforts at full-throttle, "now is not the time to change leadership." He was considered a lock for re-election before Katrina hit, but the exodus of a large segment of the city's population significantly changed voter demographics and the key campaign issues. Landrieu, 45, has one of the best-known names in New Orleans politics. His father, Moon, served two terms as mayor, and his sister is Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. Race was always seen as key in the vote. Nagin is black; Landrieu is white. Before Katrina, the city had a 2-to-1 black majority and had not elected a white mayor since 1974, when Landrieu's father won. However, flooding triggered by Katrina devastated heavily black areas, such as New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward, where few residents have been able to return, while sparing some mostly white areas, such as the French Quarter and Uptown, where many residents never left or quickly came back. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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