TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER

BATON ROUGE, La.– Brad Pitt appeared on the Today show on Thursday, August 13, and Ann Curry asked him if he would be running for mayor of New Orleans. Pitt laughed it off answering “I don’t have a chance.”

Pitt shouldn’t be so sure.

Many New Orleans residents are serious when they say Pitt would make a great mayor for the city.

New Orleans will elect a new mayor on April 22, 2010, and many residents are hoping they will be able to vote for Pitt.

Thomas Bayer, Tulane University Professor, is leading the Brad Pitt for Mayor Steering Committee. Along with his campaign, he launched a “Brad Pitt for Mayor” T-shirt that is creating international buzz.

The T-shirt is being sold exclusively through Storyville’s stores and website for $22 with $2 of every purchase going to Pitt’s foundation “The Make it Right Foundation,” a organization created to help build affordable homes in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans.

Elizabeth Harvey, Baton Rouge Storyville employee, says the shirts have been a great success and are selling fast.

“We’re slumped with orders, especially internet orders,” Harvey said. “We’re getting orders for the shirt from all over the country.”

According to Bayer the shirts have already been mailed to 14 different countries, and the entire stock sold out within 2 days of the Today show interview. No worries though. The shirts were quickly restocked and are ready to be bought.

Although the shirts may seem like just a joke, Bayer says he is serious about his campaign to have Pitt elected.

“I used humor merely as a vehicle to introduce an idea that. At first glance, may have been considered over the top,” Bayer said. “The overwhelmingly positive reaction, however, has shown that most people are very comfortable with the idea.”

Pitt said on the Today show that if he were to run for mayor, he would run on the platform of gay rights, no religion in government and the legalization and taxation of marijuana.

Bayer believes Pitt would make a good mayor because of his influential power and the attention it would gain the city.

“He has the ability to inspire and motivate and to put us into the spotlight,” Bayer said.

Andy Farmer, music education senior, agrees with Bayer.

“He’s a popular celebrity and could raise a lot of money for New Orleans,” Farmer said.

Other students are more skeptical. Sarah Hird, biology graduate student, said she would listen to his platform but is not sure she would vote for him.

“He’s well known, and he could meet people that are important we wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to meet with but I’m not sure how much experience he has in politics,” Hird said.

Matthew Allen, general studies senior, laughed at the possibility of Pitt running for Mayor.

“He’s an actor, not a politician,” Allen said.

As of right now, Pitt does not qualify to be mayor of New Orleans. According to the New Orleans City Charter to qualify for mayor one must have been a resident of New Orleans for five years immediately preceding the election. Pitt moved to New Orleans in 2007 which would make him a resident for only three years at the time of the election.

Bayer has found a solution for this.

“Right now we are promoting him for the position of ‘Honorary Mayor,’” Bayer said. “This will yield the same benefits with fewer headaches.”

Bayer said would serve as a trial run for Pitt before running for the actual position of mayor. He would have a group of volunteers called the “Honorary Mayor’s Taskforce,” to help him with his duties.

Bayer encourages everyone to take the campaign seriously and consider Pitt for the next New Orleans Mayor.

“He could attract other to our cause, promote environmental issues and open doors that no other candidate could,” Bayer said.