New Orleans mayoral election, 1930
Encyclopedia
The New Orleans mayoral election of 1930, held in January of that year, resulted in the election of T. Semmes Walmsley
to his first full term as Mayor of New Orleans.
T. Semmes Walmsley had been acting mayor since the resignation of the previous mayor, Arthur J. O'Keefe
, due to illness in July 1929. Leader of the Regular Democratic Organization
, Walmsley was the chosen candidate of that powerful political machine.
Public Service Commissioner Francis Williams
, once an ally of Governor Huey Long
but by 1930 his enemy, ran against Walmsley. Against the advice of advisors like Robert Maestri
, Long remained neutral in the first primary, declaring that neither candidate was worth supporting.
The first primary was a close race; Walmsley came first by only 9,000 votes. Williams was entitled to face Walmsley in the runoff, but he rejected Long’s last-minute offer of support and withdrew from the race.
T. Semmes Walmsley
Thomas Semmes Walmsley was Mayor of New Orleans from July 1929 to June 1936. He is best known for his intense rivalry with Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long.- Early life and career :...
to his first full term as Mayor of New Orleans.
T. Semmes Walmsley had been acting mayor since the resignation of the previous mayor, Arthur J. O'Keefe
Arthur J. O'Keefe
Arthur Joseph O’Keefe was mayor of New Orleans from 1926 through 1929.Born in New Orleans, O’Keefe was the son of Arthur O’Keefe and Sarah O'Keefe. He was educated at St. Aloysius High School and later went into business, eventually running his own coffee import company...
, due to illness in July 1929. Leader of the Regular Democratic Organization
Regular Democratic Organization
The Regular Democratic Organization , or Old Regulars, or the New Orleans Ring, is a conservative political organization based in New Orleans. It has existed for 130 years and as of 2006 is still active. The symbol of the RDO is the rooster...
, Walmsley was the chosen candidate of that powerful political machine.
Public Service Commissioner Francis Williams
Francis Williams
Francis Williams was a scholar and poet born in Kingston, Jamaica.Francis Williams was born around 1700 to John and Dorothy Williams, a free black couple in Jamaica. John Williams had been freed by the will of his former master and within ten years was able to acquire property...
, once an ally of Governor Huey Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
but by 1930 his enemy, ran against Walmsley. Against the advice of advisors like Robert Maestri
Robert Maestri
Robert Sidney Maestri was mayor of New Orleans from 1936 to 1946 and a key ally of Huey P. Long, Jr., and Earl Kemp Long.- Early life :...
, Long remained neutral in the first primary, declaring that neither candidate was worth supporting.
The first primary was a close race; Walmsley came first by only 9,000 votes. Williams was entitled to face Walmsley in the runoff, but he rejected Long’s last-minute offer of support and withdrew from the race.