The Mayor Who Wasn’t There

I am sure he had a good reason. And it wasn’t the most important announcement in the world.

But this is the way the story was told:

At a Tuesday morning event kicking off the one-month countdown to Jazzfest, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu cracked jokes and talked up economic development.

City Council President Oliver Thomas second-lined.

Jazzfest producer Quint Davis predicted the best fest ever.

And Mayor Ray Nagin was nowhere to be found.

Nothing unusual there.

Is that fair? Is Nagin the mayor who wasn’t there?