By james art In a race that could shape Gonzalez’s future, four candidates — all Democrats — are vying for the city’s mayoral seat.
A Daily report A review of the most recent campaign finance reports for all four candidates found that Gonzalez City Councilman Tim Riley leads the pack in fundraising with $13,950 raised, despite spending $15,503.29 for your campaign. His most recent campaign finance report was filed Oct. 9.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Camlin Lomas, whose last report was filed Oct. 21, has raised $11,140 and spent $7,514.88. She is the only woman in the competition.
As of his Oct. 7 report, Councilman Harold Stewart had raised $8,170 and spent $3,986.48.
Terrence Irwin’s Oct. 7 report, meanwhile, shows him trailing his peers with $6,875 raised and $2,202.02 spent. Irwin is a former alderman who challenged Barney Arsenault for mayor in 2016.
Regardless of who ultimately comes out on top, Gonzalez will elect his first black mayor. The mayoral seat opened when Arsenault, a four-term incumbent and white Democrat, stepped down to become executive director of Louisiana Municipal Association earlier this year.
In Gonzales, the growth of the black population has outpaced the growth of other demographic groups in recent years. The city is now home to a solid black majority, with 47% of its residents black, 36% white, and 13% Hispanic, according to the 2020 US Census.
In September, state Sen. Ed Price, a black Democrat from Gonzales, told LaPolitics that he was “a little shocked” to see no white candidates qualify for mayor.
“I think it makes a huge difference,” Price said at the time. “I think the city has come a long way.”