NEW ORLEANS — A day after winning a second term, Mayor C. Ray Nagin predicted that about 300,000 people would be living in the city by year's end and that an economic boom would make New Orleans "a vibrant city" within three years.
"We have probably the most important opportunity ever in the city of New Orleans' history," Nagin told reporters Sunday after attending Mass at St. Peter Claver Church in the city's Treme neighborhood, where he grew up. "We now have the economic stimulus that will happen at unprecedented levels in the city, for us to expand the economic power and for everyone to get a piece of that pie."
More than half of New Orleans' 450,000 residents were displaced when Hurricane Katrina battered the city in August.
Relishing a victory in Saturday's mayoral runoff that ensures the continuation of almost three decades of African American leadership in New Orleans, Nagin announced that his first order of business today would be to set up three committees.
The first is to be charged with devising a 100-day recovery plan that would focus on priorities such as debris removal and rebuilding houses.
The second is to evaluate his administration's personnel to ensure that he has "the best and the brightest" on his staff, and if necessary launch a nationwide search for new talent.
And a third is to "re-energize" implementation of his Bring Back New Orleans Plan, a rebuilding initiative spearheaded by community and business leaders that has been slow to take off because of mayoral campaigning and other election preparations.
Nagin won 52% of 113,591 votes cast in Saturday's mayoral runoff. His challenger, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, won 48%.
About 80% of African American voters cast ballots for Nagin, along with 21% of whites, according Greg Rigamer, a local political consultant and urban planner who analyzed the final results published by the Louisiana secretary of state. Only 8% of whites voted for Nagin in last month's primary.
"The mayor is a powerful symbol to many African American voters that this is a black city and it's going to remain so," said Susan Howell, a professor of political science at the University of New Orleans.
Landrieu dominated in white precincts, but his showing among blacks -- about 20% -- was about three percentage points less than in April's primary.
Blacks represented 55% of votes cast, whites 45%, Rigamer said. Each candidate drew about one-fifth crossover support.
