Moore verses Claitor?

(Dan Claitor while working for Harry Connick, Jr)

The question that must be asked is why did DA"Dan" Claitor, R (great name to run for DA) go down in flames to Hillar Moore, D?

This was an open seat and for both Moore and Claitor this was the first time they had ran for public office. Both of these guys come from great Baton Rouge families and both of their campaigns were relatively well financed.

This should had been a classic democrat verses republican match up.

Baton Rouge in the past has been a very friendly town to republicans. It does not make sense that Hillar Moore a democrat would win his election with almost 75% of the vote while running for a open seat against a quality opponent.

I believe there are two reasons for Hillar's landslide. The first reason and probably the biggest reason is Hillar has practice law in Baton Rouge for his entire professional life while Dan worked for the New Orleans DA's office. There is such a divide between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and there is great resentment between these two cities. In the inter-city of Baton Rouge after hurricane Katrina the gang factions divided between the 225's and the 504's. The Baton Rouge gang bangers were not going to let the newly arrived New Orleans gang banger tell then how to run their business this has been the reason for much of the violence in Baton Rouge's intercity.

It is not only with the gang bangers this divide go into all aspects of Baton Rouge society. People from New Orleans see people from Baton Rouge as backwards and people from Baton Rouge resent that attitude.

When DA (Dan) Claitor ran television commercials stating that he worked in the New Orleans DA office and that he prosecuted more cases in New Orleans than the entire East Baton Rouge DA office, this was absolutely the wrong message. It was as if Claitor was saying, "I am from New Orleans and I am going to show you backward people how to clean up your city, like we did in New Orleans". The average Baton Rouogean thought that his message was very insulting and kindled the fires of the 225ers verses the 504ers.

Bottom line is that Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge and it's not New Orleans nor does Baton Rouge want to be New Orleans.

The second reason that Hillar won in such a landslide is because of Hillar's community involvement. He has coached the sons and daughter of Baton Rouge in Baseball, he has raised money for policemen who had been injured on duty and he has acted the fool (like the rest of us) at LSU tailgate parties. Hillar has given back so much to Baton Rouge and by doing this he has touched so many different people and all of these people voted for him. When Dan said, "If you want a baseball coach vote for Hillar” this only reminded the voters of Baton Rouge how Hillar and his family has been active in this city. The citizens of Baton Rouge rewarded his community services by overwhelmingly voting for him.

Someone told me they thought that Cailtor has a great political future ahead of him self. I don't think so. My advice to DA (Dan) Claitor is go beg Hillar Moore for a job and he might be merciful and give him job, after all Claitor has prosecuted more case in one week in New Orleans than the entire Baton Rouge DA's office has ever prosecuted in the history of Baton Rouge!

Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge and Hillar is the new DA, good luck Hillar!