The race for Orleans Parish sheriff is heating up. WWL-TV hosted a full in-studio debate between:
-Sheriff Susan Hutson (incumbent)
-Michelle Woodfork (former NOPD interim superintendent)
-Edwin Shorty Jr. (Orleans Parish constable)
The candidates clashed over:
--May’s jailbreak at the Orleans Justice Center — Hutson called it “a let out, not a breakout”
-A cyberattack that disrupted sheriff’s office systems
-Whether National Guard troops should be deployed to New Orleans
-Immigration enforcement and Louisiana’s ban on “sanctuary cities”
-Jail overcrowding, staffing shortages, and safety concerns
-Deputy pay, budget transparency, and public trust
Hutson defended her record while Woodfork and Shorty criticized her handling of recent crises, making this one of the most pivotal debates ahead of the October 11, 2025 election.
Watch the entire debate here and decide for yourself who should lead Orleans Parish law enforcement.
WWL anchors Devin Bartolotta and Brandon Walker moderated, a...
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