Helena Moreno on Wednesday announced her support for New Orleans' incumbent criminal court clerk , Darren Lombard, in her first endorsement as the city's mayor-elect.

The endorsement is a win for Lombard, who was forced into a Nov. 15 runoff after challenger Calvin Duncan won 47% of the vote in the October primary. Moreno touted Lombard’s track record in her endorsement announcement.

"He has the proven experience and knowledge to effectively manage our courts and institutions," the mayor-elect said in a social media post shared by Lombard's campaign.

The move also separated Moreno from a key political ally, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams. Though he has not formally endorsed Lombard's opponent, the district attorney has slammed Lombard in recent months for failing to

See Full Page