Incumbent Nick Lorusso led a field of four candidates and will face Democrat Deborah Langhoff in a runoff for the seat that Emile "Peppi" Bruneau held until Lorusso won a March special election.
Lorusso, 39, is a fiscal conservative who voted during his shortened term to block Gov. Kathleen Blanco from exceeding the state spending cap. He later changed his vote when it became clear it was the only way to pump $1 billion into the Road Home program in an effort to keep the homeowner aid effort afloat.
Langhoff, 59, who co-owns a computer consulting business, had never sought a career as an elected official until Hurricane Katrina inspired her to become a community activist. In the past two years she has emerged as a leader of neighborhood watch efforts in Lake Vista and Faubourg St. John and as an advocate for Road Home applicants.
After his older brother lost to Lorusso in March, Adrian Bruneau didn't even make the runoff this time. He failed to establish himself as a candidate outside his father's legacy.
