A state legislator faces a former City Council member in the runoff for the District E New Orleans City Council seat, with each hoping to convince voters they can lead New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward into a new era of economic growth.

Former Council member Cyndi Nguyen, who who works for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, led the 11-candidate field in Oct. 11 primary with 46% of the vote. State Rep. Jason Hughes followed with 36% to get into the Nov. 15 runoff, one of two council runoffs on the ballot.

Early voting is going on now and ends Saturday.

Both Democrats, Nguyen and Hughes are vying for the seat vacated by Oliver Thomas who ran unsuccessfully for mayor.

Both candidates tout past records of delivering for a constituency that has suffered the drawbacks of r

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