Due to their prior public service, either of the two candidates most likely to win the New Orleans mayoral election will draw a lucrative state pension in addition to the mayor’s $150,000 annual salary.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu already receives a lifetime state pension; Michael Bagneris, his best-funded challenger in the Feb. 1 primary, has applied to receive his, state records show.
$81,000Mitch Landrieu’s annual state pension$94,000Michael Bagneris’ potential state pension
Landrieu has received a state pension of about $80,705 a year since he stepped down as lieutenant governor in May 2010 to become mayor, said R. Stephen Stark, deputy counsel of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System, in an email.
Bagneris has applied to get his as well, Stark said. Bagneris’ maximum annual pension would be about $94,000, according to the state’s formula. He earned about $140,000 as a Civil District Court judge when he retired in December after 20 years on the job.
Landrieu started collecting his pension immediately after leaving his state job because he had served at least 20 years. The same rule applies to Bagneris.
The third mayoral candidate, Danatus King Sr., has not held a government job that would qualify him for a state pension.
Landrieu served in the state House, a part-time job, from 1988 until 2004 when he began the first of two terms as lieutenant governor. He left that position halfway through his second term to become mayor. In all, he served 22.3 years in state jobs, according to state records.
Landrieu campaign spokesman Ryan Berni confirmed the mayor’s pension and said he has noted it on his personal financial disclosures each year.
That disclosure does not specify the exact amount. The form asks officials to check a box describing a broad range of income. Landrieu checked the box for $25,000 to $100,000.
As The Lens reported in July, Landrieu also owns a one-ninth interest in two downtown parking lots with his eight other siblings. City property records show the two parking lots are worth more than $1 million.