Nearly three weeks out from the start of early voting, nine candidates for New Orleans mayor made their pitch at a debate Tuesday night at Xavier University hosted by the Urban League of Louisiana.

City Council Vice President Helena Moreno has maintained a double-digit lead in polling over State Sen. Royce Duplessis and Councilmember Oliver Thomas, who are both seeking enough votes to force the October race into a November runoff.

Duplessis in his opening remarks said he wants to make New Orleans an easier and more affordable place to live and argued that people are leaving New Orleans because of the "dysfunction out of City Hall," echoing a television ad his campaign began airing over the weekend blaming Moreno for much of the city's problems.

Moreno said she looked forward to workin

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