Hazeur
Kiefer
Orleans Parish Civil District Court nominees Ellen Hazeur and Kris Kiefer are leading other candidates in campaign spending, according to campaign finance reports.
Kiefer, the son of former Louisiana State Senator Nat Kiefer, has loaned his campaign $285,000 in his bid to replace Judge Madeleine Landrieu.
Ellen Hazeur, the First City Court Clerk seeking to fill Judge Rosemary Ledet's bench, has spent more than $400,000 on her campaign.
Kiefer is a plaintiff attorney and graduate of the Southern University Law Center. His father was known for his outspoken nature and ties with former Louisiana Governer Edwin Edwards.
Hazeur served two terms as a New Orleans City Councilwoman and has served as the First City Court Clerk since 2001. Hazeur also serves on the Orleans Levee District Board of Levee Commissioners.
Hazeur trailed opponent Regina Bartholomew in a head-to-head poll of likely voters conducted last week by Metairie-based Multi Quest International.
The poll indicated that Bartholomew leads Hazeur 35% to 25% among voters polled. Bartholomew also has 61% name recognition compared to 51% for Hazeur, the poll indicated.
Bartholomew also leads Hazeur among notable endorsements, picking up bipartisan support from the AFL-CIO, the Greater New Orleans Republicans, the Regular Democratic Organization and various state and federal officials.
Bartholomew and Hazeur are seeking the seat vacated by Judge Rosemary Ledet who was recently elected to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The election takes place Oct. 22.
Kiefer is facing up against Makisha Ervin-Knott and Clare Jupiter.
Both Kiefer and Ervin-Knott have raised over $100,000 in campaign contributions.
Jupiter has spent just $500 on her campaign.
Jupiter is a partner at Bryan & Jupiter APLC and has specialized in education and tort defense law for 30 years. She formerly served as general counsel for the OPSB and currently serves on the Louisiana State Bar Association Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The two vacancies in Orleans Parish come as a result of Landrieu and Ledet earning benches in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.