The New Orleans mayoral election, scheduled less than a year after Hurricane Katrina decimated the city, was a circus filled with unique characters, heated debates and groundbreaking politics. In the weeks before the election, the city became a hot bed of political, social and economic debate.

In order for the city and its residents to rise out of the ashes, a leader had to be chosen and given great responsibility. The stakes in this election were unbelievably high. The winner will direct the future appearance of a city whose dark underbelly was exposed when the wind and rain stopped.

The lure of that power attracted nearly two-dozen candidates, civil rights leaders and national media attention. Amid the endless chatter from those forces, a voice representing the history and the possibility of New Orleans was quietly rumbling. The voice of the voter took on new shapes. Many people who once were passive suddenly realized the power of their vote and their voice.

The question is whose voice will be the loudest?

• Will it be the voices of the evacuees who are working to make sure everyone knows about the election and trying to get back home at the same time?
• Will it be the voices of the small business owners scrounging to get their business up and running without waiting for Federal or State aid?
• Will it be the voices of the politicians running a national campaign for a local office?

A snapshot of this moment in time will prove to be a lesson for the entire country.