VOL. 15, NO. 5 KENNER’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991 MAY 2006 Ed Muniz defeats incumbent Mayor Capitano By ALLAN KATZ said Muniz. “He certainly didn’t intend to do so, but Capitano may have helped build Vowing that he will bring unity and my coalition that wanted political peace civility to a city divided by political ran- and civic unity. In the post-Katrina period, cor, Mayor-elect Ed Muniz ousted incum- people seem to have many concern s , bent Phil Capitano by rolling up 58 per- including a desire for their political lead- cent of the vote in the April 29 runoff ers to work together. Everyone knows I’ve election. been in the communications business for Muniz, form e r ly a Kenner and 40 years and if there’s anything I stand for, J e ffe rson Parish Councilman, receive d i t ’s sharing information and wo r k i n g 8,638 votes to Capitano’s 6,325 votes, or together.” 42 percent. Capitano was elected mayor in Muniz is a retired radio station owner a special election in 2004. The turnout and remains active as the captain and was 38 percent of Kenner’s registered vot- leader of the Krewe of Endymion. He only With his wife of 41 years, Peggy, at his Phil Capitano, who lost a bid for ers. Both Muniz and Capitano are entered the mayor’s race at the very last side, Mayor-elect Ed Muniz addresses reelection as mayor of Kenner, thanks his supporters on election night. his supporters on election night. Republicans. moment, in response to hundreds of In an interv i ew, Muniz said that requests that he unify the city and bring an positions in my administration,” said the tracts, including the legal and engineering Capitano’s attacks in the final days of the end to political discord. m ayo r-elect. “I’m going to emphasize contracts. We may be able to do better. I campaign may have helped build Muniz’s Muniz said he’s now looking ahead to putting together an excellent team of want to continue the development of margin of victory. “Our polls indicated his inaugural on July 1. “I’ve identified executives who are responsive to the pub- Rivertown and Laketown. While I have a that the more violently and viciously he the person I want to be my chief of staff lic and accessible. I want to take a close clear vision of Kenner as one of the great attacked, the greater our support became,” and others I’m going to ask to take key look at some of my predecessor’s con- continued on page 30 Steve Caraway wins runoff victory Michele Branigan defeats incumbant in race for Kenner Police Chief John Lavarine III for Division A at Large seat By ALLAN KATZ By ALLAN KATZ Emerging victorious from an initial Michele Branigan defeated incum- field of seven candidates, Steve Caraway, bent John Lavarine III in the runoff for who has served his entire career with the the Division A at Large seat on the Kenner Police Department, was easily Kenner City Council and will take office elected to succeed Nick Congemi as on July 1, 2006. Kenner’s new police chief. B r a n i g an, who has represented Caraway rolled up 62 percent of the District 4 on the council since 1996, vote in the runoff for police chief, defeat- received 8,895 votes to 5,664 votes for ing P.J. Hahn, who received 38 percent of Lavarine. She received 61 percent of the the vote. Caraway received 9,182 votes votes cast, to 39 percent for Lavarine. Kelli Branigan congratulates her mother, to 5,623 votes for Hahn. Both are Both are Republicans. Lavarine previous- Michele Branigan, on election night. Republicans. ly held the District 2 seat on the council. that for the first time in more than 20 Caraway retired as a captain and head Caraway said his election reflected He succeeded his father, John Lavarine, years, there will not be a Lavarine on the of detectives for the KPD to make the the confidence that Kenner voters have Jr. in the District 2 seat. His defeat means continued on page 30 race for police chief, but will return after in the KPD. “The KPD is among the very being sworn in on July 1, 2006. continued on page 30 Maria Defrancesh wins District 4 runoff By ALLAN KATZ Republicans. Defrancesh will take office on July 1, 2006. April 1, 2006 Primary Winners M a r i a “I was behind going into the runoff Jeannie Black moves to at Large seat . .p. 4 D e f r a n c e s h and decided that my best chance was a edged out Kevin street campaign, knocking doors and lis- Marc Johnson retains District 1 position . .p. 4 D e l a h o u s s aye to tening to voters, fa c e - t o - f a c e ,” said Joe Stagni wins big in District 2 . .p. 9 become Kenner’s Defrancesh of her victory. “Kenner vot- n ext District 4 ers are really smart and they know what Ben Zahn gets seat after Holland drops out . .p. 9 Councilman by a their neighborhoods need. This experi- Kent Denapolis re-elected in District 5 . .p. 9 count of 1,946 ence certainly reminded me that we don’t votes to 1,726 listen enough to the voters.” Kenner voters approve four propositions . .p. 10 votes. Both are continued on page 30 2 MAY 2006 KENNER ST#R KENNER ST#R MAY 2006 3 4 MAY 2006 KENNER ST#R # # It shows in the way Government you feel inside. Jeannie Black ousts Dominic Weilbaecher (And outside.) from Kenner City Council First Month Only $20 with EFT Registration Joining fees may apply. Valid for new customers only or those who have not attended Jazzercise for 6 months or longer. Valid only at participating locations. Not valid with any other offer. No refunds or cash value. Limit one per customer. Expires 5/31/06 Kenner Jazzercise Center 3729 Williams Blvd. • 443-6666 Class Times: 6AM, 8AM, 9:15AM 4:30PM, 5:45PM, 7 PM, Sat. 8AM 9:15AM, Sun. 8:30AM, 6:15PM jazzercise.com • 1(800) FIT-IT-IS Jeannie Black and husband, Jerry, celebrate her election night victory in the ST. PHILIP NERI PARISH race for the Councilman at Large, Division B position. By ALLAN KATZ attack me and I’d be shattered. Well, he did attack but it didn’t hurt me. I think his attacks MAY FAIR In what many considered to be a major just reminded people about all the things they don’t like about politics.” Friday, May 5 • 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. clash of opposing styles, District 3 Councilmember Jeannie M. Black defeated Black said that as a councilperson at Saturday, May 6 • 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Dominic Weilbaecher for his Division B Large her emphasis will continue to be on BANDS: Boogiemen - Friday night, Vieux Carré - Saturday Night Council at Large seat in the April 1 election. service to constituents. “We keep a log in our Black received 52 percent of the vote, office and found that I’ve returned more than 6600 Kawanee Avenue in Metairie compared to 34 percent for Weilbaecher and 10,000 phone calls while a councilperson,” 15 percent for Joseph “Joe” Berthelot. Black she said. “I think the first requirement of and Weilbaecher are Republicans, wh i l e being a public servant is to return every call Berthelot is an independent. Citywide turnout and do everything within your power to make for the Division B election was 35 percent. people’s lives better. That’s what I’ve been I TA L I A N , Weilbaecher was known on the city coun- doing and that’s what I’ll continue to do. I S E A F O O D , cil for his aggressive style, frequently direct- know there are others who think that’s a sim- ed against whoever happened to be Kenner’s plistic view of public service, but it certainly & S T E A K S mayor. Black was known for her willingness has worked for me. I enjoy helping people. to work out compromises and her dislike of Filling potholes, repairing drainage canals M O N D AY & TUESDAY: CLOSED confrontations. and getting new equipment for playgrounds W E D N E S D AY & THURSDAY: “Many of my friends were begging me to are basics that are the foundation of a great 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. attack Weilbaecher during the campaign,” city. I hope to be just as responsive as an at F R I D AY: said Black. “I said that it isn’t my style, I Large member of the council as I was when I 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. won’t do it and my entire focus is going to be represented District 3.” S AT U R D AY & SUNDAY: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on my positive accomplishments. I neve r Jeannie Black will take on her new seat on mentioned him. People said he was going to July 1. # W E D N E S D AY STEAK SPECIALS $ 1 5 . 9 9 District 1 Councilman Marc Johnson makes political history By ALLAN KATZ Finishing behind Johnson were Gregory W.