Judge Phyllis Keaty’s re-election campaign kicked off last night with a major fundraiser netting just under $100,000, according to a campaign press release put out this morning. The event, held at River Oaks’ Napoleon Ballroom, drew a crowd of approximately 350 people, including City-Parish President Joey Durel, Sheriff Mike Neustrom, state Sen. Don Cravins and state Sen. Nick Gautreaux. Keaty, a Republican, was first elected as a 15th Judicial District Judge in 1998 and is a co-founder of the district’s Family Court. Keaty is up for re-election on the Oct. 4 ballot. Thus far, no other candidates have announced. Qualifying for the race ends July 11.
Nancy Landry, a local family law counselor who served as a clerk to Keaty for three years, chaired the fundraiser. Landry, also known for her narrow loss to Don Trahan in last year’s District 31 state representative race, recently launched the public affairs firm Pelican Strategies, which is managing Keaty’s campaign. “I am floored by the amazing turnout to support Judge Keaty right before the 4th of July holiday,” Landry states in the press release. “I always knew she was very well regarded, but we weren’t quite prepared for an outpouring of support this huge.”