BGR’s Candidate Q&A reports ask the candidates for mayor, City Council and sheriff in the October 11, 2025 primary election to explain how they will address important public policy issues if elected. BGR developed the questions based on our body of research. Many of these issues have close ties to concerns that voters themselves have raised in public opinion polls.
BGR thanks the candidates who took the survey and shared their perspectives with voters. We applaud the commitment to public service and participation in the democratic process that their candidacy represents.
BGR is a private, nonprofit, independent research organization dedicated to informed public policy making and the effective use of public resources for the improvement of government in greater New Orleans. BGR is nonpartisan and does not endorse any candidates for public office. Our Candidate Q&A report series is an educational project to help voters make informed decisions on election day.
Get started by reading the overall summary of the Candidate Q&A reports or download the Media Release button above. Scroll down to start viewing the candidates’ responses.
Mayor
Click to read the mayoral candidates’ responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
Taking the survey were: Joseph “Joe” Bikulege Jr., “Manny Chevrolet” Bruno, Eileen Carter, Royce Duplessis, Frank Robert Janusa, Helena Moreno, Frank M. Scurlock, Oliver Thomas, and Richard “Ricky” Twiggs.
BGR did not receive survey responses from two other qualified mayoral candidates, Russell J. Butler and Renada Collins.
City Council
Click below to read the New Orleans City Council candidates’ responses for each election:
- At Large Division 1. All three qualified candidates completed the survey: Delisha Boyd, Matthew “Matt” Hill, and Matthew Willard. Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for At Large Division 1, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
- At Large Division 2. All three qualified candidates completed the survey: Kenneth Cutno, Gregory Manning, and J.P. Morrell (Incumbent). Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for At Large Division 2, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
- District A. All five qualified candidates completed the survey: Holly Friedman, Aimee McCarron, “Alex” Mossing, Robert “Bob” Murrell, and Bridget Neal. Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for District A, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
- District B. Councilmember Lesli Harris was reelected without opposition and did not complete the survey.
- District C. All four qualified candidates completed the survey: Eliot S. Barron, Kelsey Foster, Jackson Kimbrell, and Freddie King III (Incumbent). Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for District C, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
- District D. All three qualified candidates completed the survey: Belden “Noonie Man” Batiste, Eugene Green (Incumbent), and Leilani Heno. Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for District D, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
- District E. Five of the seven qualified candidates who remain in the District E race as of August 26, 2025, completed the survey: Richard Bell Sr., Willie Morgan, Cyndi Nguyen, Gavin Richard, and Jonathan Anthony Roberts. Read their responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report for District E, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary. District E Candidate Jason Hughes declined to participate in the survey. Candidate Nathaniel Jones did not respond to BGR’s invitations and outreach.
Sheriff
Click to read the Orleans Parish Sheriff candidates’ responses by issue or by candidate, or download the PDF report, which includes a BGR Survey Insights summary.
All six qualified candidates for Orleans Parish Sheriff completed the BGR survey: Susan Hutson (Incumbent), Ernesteayo J. “Ernest” Lee Sr., Robert “Bob” Murray, Julian Parker, Edwin Mark Shorty Jr., and Michelle Woodfork.
Survey Questions and Research for Debate Organizers, News Media and Citizens
The survey forms that BGR sent to all qualified mayoral, council and sheriff candidates can help organizers of candidate debates and forums, reporters and editors covering the campaigns, and individual citizens, neighborhood associations or other community groups engaging directly with the candidates on issues that concern them most. Click the links below to access the original survey forms, and note that the mayor and council surveys have the same research and questions, except for a minor change to the wording of question #10.
- BGR 2025 Mayoral Candidate Survey
- BGR 2025 Council Candidate Survey
- BGR 2025 Sheriff Candidate Survey
Explore More BGR Research About Issues Important to New Orleans Voters
Earlier this summer, BGR highlighted how our research connects with key topics on the minds of voters this fall. Click here to read more. Our full library of reports on local public policy issues is available here.