How a French Quarter sanitation dispute became a proxy battle for New Orleans mayor’s race

In New Orleans, sanitation contracts are among the most lucrative deals awarded by city government.

Now, a war over one of those deals has spawned a proxy fight in the election to replace Mayor LaToya Cantrell, spurring accusations of political patronage and raising questions about the future of mayoral power in the city.

The deal in question — a $73 million, multiyear French Quarter sanitation contract Cantrell inked last summer with local firm Henry Consulting — lies at the heart of a brouhaha that has simmered in New Orleans for months. Cantrell’s foes on the City Council, including one candidate gunning to replace her, joined with a competing contractor and French Quarter business owners in a tooth-and-nail fight to kill the deal.

They’ve at turns slammed the resume of Troy Henr