The New Orleans City Council is the legislative branch of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1954 through a home rule charter, it replaced the city’s previous commission form of government created under the 1912 Charter. The current structure includes seven members: five elected from single-member districts and two elected at-large. Council members serve four-year terms, elected using the two-round system.[1]
New Orleans City Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Council President | |
Council Vice President | |
Structure | |
Seats | 7 |
Political groups | Democratic (7) |
Elections | |
Two-round system | |
Last election | November 13, 2021 |
Meeting place | |
New Orleans City Hall Council Chamber New Orleans, LA | |
Website | |
Official website |
The Council holds broad legislative powers, including enacting local laws, approving the city budget, and overseeing taxation and appropriations. It is responsible for laws related to public health, safety, welfare, and urban development, such as zoning regulations, housing standards, and land use policies. The Council also acts as a Board of Review for property tax assessments and has final approval over significant contracts, appointments, and city agency budgets. Its authority extends uniquely to regulating electric and gas utilities within the city, a power typically reserved for state commissions in most U.S. municipalities.[2]
Members
editThe Council’s structure includes a president and vice president chosen from among its members at its organizational meeting following elections. One at-large member serves as president, while any other member may serve as vice president.[3] Leadership traditionally rotates annually between the two at-large members. Council business is supported by personal and central staff, with additional assistance from executive branch advisors. Public transparency is maintained through open meetings, public records compliance, and adherence to state and city ethics codes.[2]
The current members of the New Orleans City Council:[4]
Officers:
- President: Helena Moreno
District | Name | Party |
---|---|---|
A | Joseph I. Giarrusso III | DEM |
B | Lesli Harris | DEM |
C | Freddie King III | DEM |
D | Eugene J. Green | DEM |
E | Oliver Thomas | DEM |
At-large Division 1 | Helena Moreno | DEM |
At-large Division 2 | Jean Paul "JP" Morrell | DEM |
All 7 members of the council are Democrats[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Term | Mayor | First District | Second District | Third District | Fourth District | Fifth District | Sixth District | Seventh District | Eight District | Unknown |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 20, 1803 – May 26, 1804 | Étienne de Boré | Caraby,[note 1] S. Landreau[note 1] | Louis Lioteau,[note 1] P. Profit[note 1] | Allard Jr., Caricks, Cavelier Petit, Lebreton Deschapelles, Donaldson, François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois, Joseph Faurie, Fortier, W. E. Hulings, Jones, J. Livaudais, Pierre Petit, James Pitot, Thomas H. Porée, A. D. Tureaud, Villere, J. N. Watkins, S. Winter | ||||||
June 6, 1804 – July 26, 1805 | Cavelier Petit | Felix Arnaud, James Garrick | Francois Duplessis, Joseph Faurie | J. D. D. Bellechasse, Guy Dreux | Antoine Argotte, Pierre Bertonnière, P. Profit | Thomas L. Harman, P. Lavergne, Macdonaugh, S. Winter | John B. Macarty, F. K. Dorville | François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois, François M. Guerin, Thomas H. Porée | Hazeur Delorme Sr., W. Donaldson, M. Fortier, J. W. Gurley, J. Livaudais, Pollock, Pierre Petit, John Watkins | |
June 6, 1804 – July 26, 1805 | James Pitot | |||||||||
July 27, 1805 – March 8, 1807 | John Watkins | Felix Arnaud | Francois Duplessis, Joseph Faurie, D. Urquhart | Deflechier, Guy Dreux, Robelot | Antoine Carraby, Thomas L. Harman, P. Lavergne, Macdonaugh, S. Winter | John B. Macarty, Lebreton Deschapelles, Mayronne | Louis Blanc, Deflechier, Hazeur Delorme Sr., J. Du Buys, Guillotte, J. Livaudais, Arnaud Magnon, C. Patton, Pedesclaux, Pollock, Denis de la Ronde, Charles Trudeau | |||
March 9, 1807 – May 23, 1812 | James Mather | Jean Lanna, Thomas H. Porée, L. S. Fontaine | Francois Duplessis, Joseph Faurie, J. Henderson, R. Relf, D. Urquhart, J. Starrett | Pierre Bertonnière, Deflechier, F. K. Dorville, Lafon, Robelot, J. Soulie, C. Treme | M. Bertoniere, A. Chastant, H. Lavigne, Ferdinand Percy | W. Brand, Antoine Carraby, James Freret, Thomas L. Harman, B. Morgan, J. Nc Neil, S. Winter | J. D. D. Bellechasse, L. Bouligny, Lebreton Deschapelles, Paul Lanusse, Francois Livaudais Sr. John B. Macarty, Mayronne | J. Blanque, J. Castanedo S. Duffossat, François M. Guerin | B. Marigny, Pierre Missotiere | Cenas, Colsson, Fortin, Laronde, Arnaud Magnon, C. Patton |
May 23, 1812 – October 8, 1812 | Charles Trudeau | |||||||||
October 8, 1812 – November 5, 1812 | Nicholas Girod | John R. Grymes, O. H. Spencer, Maunsell White | Alexander C. Chopin, Ferdinand Percy, Paul Lanusse | J. B. Dejan Sr., Honoré Landreau, Pierre Roger | J. Lanna, Nicholas Lauve, J. Thierry[note 2] | J. Blanque, B. Marigny | James Freret, Antoine Carraby | Chevalier Doriocourt, Louis Foucher | François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois, Samuel C. Young | S. Henderson, Augustin de Macarty, Monlon |
November 6, 1812 – December 4, 1812 | François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois | Samuel C. Young | ||||||||
December 5, 1812 – September 4, 1815 | Nicholas Girod | François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois, Samuel C. Young | ||||||||
September 4, 1815 – May 13, 1820 | Augustin de Macarty | W. A. Depeyster, J. S. Gilly, Samuel H. Harper, Nathan Morse, Ben P. Porter, Spencer, James W. Widney | E. Carraby, Zenon Cavelier, Alexander C. Chopin, Ferdinand Percy, Joseph Tricou Pere | A. Davezac, Francois Dreux Sr., G. Preval, H. Remi, M. Roche, Roger, John Soulie | A. Abat, Pierre Cherbonnier, Jean Lanna, Eugene Leveau, J. Quessart | L. S. Blancard, J. Blanque, B. Marigny, Edmond Meance | J. B. Plauche, Louis Philippe de Roffignac, James Freret, V. Rillieux, A. H. Smith | Thomas Bryant, T. A. Rousseau | R. Blanc, Samuel C. Young | |
May 14, 1820 – May 18, 1828 | Louis Philippe de Roffignac | S. Blanc, W. Christy, Martin Gordon, Livermore, W. Morse, Paulding, S. Paxton, Alexander Philips, Ben P. Porter, Isaac T. Preston, J. L. Preston, Ripley, J. H. Shepherd, D. Urquhart, C. West | Bacas, E. Carraby, Lenon Cavelier, N. Girod, B. Gryma, N. Lauve, Yves L. Monier, Reynes, Thomas, J. B. B. Vignie, J. B. Wiltz | A. Abat, Bernard, M. Cruzat, A. Davezac, J. B. Faget, Mercier, Mittenberger, T. Mossey, Gallien Preval, J. Rodriguez | Francois Benetaud, J. Cucullu, Jean Lanna, B. Montreuil, Peychaud, J. Quessart | L. S. Blancard, J. F. Canonge, Leander La Coste, L. C. Hiligsberg, B. Marigny, Edmond Meance, Naba | Thomas Bickel, Nathaniel Cox, Harvey Elkins, Francois Gaiennie, Samuel H. Harper, P. D. Henry, John Linton, W. N. Montgomery, H. W. Palfrey, F. L. Turner, Maunsell White | J. A. Fort, Burthe, P. Foucher, Charles Genois, Kenny Laverty, P. A. Rousseau | L. Allard, B. Beauregard, E. Blanc, M. Fleytas |
Council members under the 1954 Charter
editUnder the 1954 Charter, council members are elected to four-year terms that begin on the first Monday in May following the election, except that a councilmember elected to fill a vacancy serves only for the remainder of the unexpired term.[13] Vacancies that occur less than one year before the end of the term may be filled by appointment; vacancies of a year or longer are filled by special election, and that vacancy may be filled by appointment for the period before the special election.[14] After the regular 1970 elections, a redistricting dispute delayed the next regular Council elections until 1976, and the following regular Council election was held in 1978.[13] Effective in 1991, a council member who has served more than one and a half terms in two consecutive terms may not be elected to the office for the following term.[13][14] Beginning in 2014 the at-large seats are voted on as separate offices, designated as Division 1 and Division 2.[15] Effective June 1, 2018, the terms of office begin on the second Monday in January following the election.[16]
Office holders for terms before 2022 and reference notes for those office holders are from the City Archives at the New Orleans Public Library. Office holders for the 2022-2026 term are from the Louisiana Secretary of State election results for the November 13, 2021, general election and the December 11, 2021, runoff election.
Term | At-Large Seats[17] | District Seats | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division 1 | Division 2 | A | B | C | D | E | |
1954-1958 |
Glenn P. Clasen |
A. Brown Moore |
Paul V. Burke |
Walter M. Duffourc | |||
1958-1962 |
Glenn P. Clasen[18] James A. Comiskey[19] |
Victor H. Schiro[20] Theodore Hickey[21] |
Henry B. Curtis |
Fred J. Cassibry[22] John J. Petre[23] |
Theodore Hickey[24] Walter M. Duffourc[25] | ||
1962-1966 |
James E. Fitzmorris |
Joseph V. DiRosa |
Clarence O. Dupuy, Jr. |
John J. Petre |
Daniel Kelly | ||
1966-1970 |
John J. Petre |
Eddie L. Sapir[28] |
James A. Moreau |
Philip Ciaccio | |||
1970-1976[29] |
Joseph V. DiRosa |
James A. Moreau |
Frank Friedler[31] |
Eddie L. Sapir[32] |
John D. Lambert | ||
1976-1978 |
Joseph I. Giarrusso |
Frank Friedler |
A.L. Davis |
Mike Early |
|||
1978-1982 |
Frank Friedler[35] Joel Loeffleholz[36] |
Brod Bagert[38] Niles Hellmers[39] |
Philip Ciaccio[41] Howard Beck[42] | ||||
1982-1986 |
Bryan Wagner |
Lambert Boissiere |
Wayne Babovich[43] Ulysses Williams[44] | ||||
1986-1990 |
Peggy Wilson |
||||||
1990-1994[45] |
|||||||
1994-1998 |
Peggy Wilson |
James (Jim) Singleton |
Roy Glapion |
Ellen Hazeur-Distance | |||
1998-2002 |
Eddie L. Sapir |
Suzanne Haik Terrell[46] Howell Crosby[47] Scott Shea[48] |
Roy Glapion[49] H. Kenneth Johnston[50] Marlin Gusman[51] |
Ellen Hazeur-Distance[52] Lula Harris Breaux[53] | |||
2002-2006 |
Oliver Thomas |
Jacquelyn B. Clarkson |
Marlin Gusman[55] David Payton[56] |
Cynthia Willard-Lewis | |||
2006-2010 |
Oliver Thomas[58] Michael Darnell[59] Jacquelyn B. Clarkson[60] |
James Carter |
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | ||||
2010-2014 |
Arnie Fielkow[61] Eric Granderson[62] Stacey Head[63] |
Jacquelyn B. Clarkson |
Susan Guidry |
Stacey Head[64] |
Kristen Gisleson Palmer |
Jon Johnson[67] Ernest Charbonnet[68] James Austin Gray II[69] | |
2014-2018 |
Stacey Head |
LaToya Cantrell[70] |
Nadine Ramsey |
James Austin Gray II | |||
2018-2022 |
Joseph I. Giarrusso III |
Jay H. Banks |
Kristen Gisleson Palmer |
Cyndi Nguyen | |||
2022-2026 |
Jean Paul "JP" Morrell |
Lesli Harris |
Freddie King III |
Eugene J. Green |
Oliver Thomas |
Earlier members, under the commission form of government
edit- A. Brown Moore (Public utilities commissioner, 1950–1954)
- Lionel Ott (Finance commissioner, 1946–1954)
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "200 Years of the City Charter". City Archives, New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "Citizens' Guide to the New Orleans City Council". New Orleans City Council. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
- ^ "New Orleans Home Rule Charter, Section 3-107".
- ^ "Meet the Council". New Orleans City Council. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ Stein, Michael Isaac (28 January 2021). "Donna Glapion appointed interim City Councilwoman". The Lens. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Joe Giarrusso III". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Jay Banks". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Kristin Palmer". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Jared Brossett". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Cyndi Nguyen". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Helena Moreno". Ballotpedia.
- ^ a b c "Administrations of the Mayor's of New Orleans". archives.nolalibrary.org. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "New Orleans City Council Members Since 1954". City Archives, New Orleans Public Library. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ a b New Orleans Home Rule Charter, Section 3-105
- ^ "New Orleans Home Rule Charter, Section 3-102".
- ^ New Orleans Home Rule Charter, Section 3-102, June 29, 2015
- ^ Designation of seats as Division 1 and Division 2 began in 2014
- ^ 1958-1961; appointed CAO, January 1961
- ^ 1961-1962; elected to fill Clasen's unexpired term
- ^ 1958-1961; appointed to fill Mayor Morrison's unexpired term, 1961
- ^ 1961-1962; appointed to fill Schiro's unexpired term
- ^ 1958-1961; elected judge, Civil District Court, July 1960
- ^ 1961-1962; elected to fill Cassibry's unexpired term
- ^ 1958-1961; appointed to fill Schiro's unexpired At-Large term, 1961
- ^ 1961-1962; appointed to fill Hickey's unexpired term, 1961
- ^ 1962-1966; elected judge, Civil District Court, 1966
- ^ Elected Mayor, 1970
- ^ 1967-1970; elected to fill Marcus' unexpired term
- ^ After the regular 1970 elections, a redistricting dispute delayed the next regular Council elections until 1976. The next regular election for Council was held in 1978.
- ^ 1970-1974; elected to La. Court of Appeals, 1974
- ^ 1974-1976; elected to fill Beer's unexpired term
- ^ 1970-1975; elected judge of Municipal Court, 1975
- ^ 1975-1976; appointed to fill Sapir's unexpired term
- ^ Elected Mayor, 1986
- ^ 1978-1980; retired, 1980
- ^ 1980-1981; appointed to fill Friedler's unexpired term
- ^ 1981-1982; elected to fill Friedler's unexpired term
- ^ 1978-1980; elected to La. Public Service Commission, 1980
- ^ 1980-1981; elected to fill Bagert's unexpired term, 1980; elected City Court judge, 1981
- ^ 1981-1982; elected to fill Hellmers' unexpired term
- ^ 1978-1982; appointed judge, La. 4th Cirtcuit Court of Appeals, January 1982
- ^ 1982; appointed to fill Ciaccio's unexpired term
- ^ 1982-1985; resigned, 1985
- ^ 1985-1986; appointed to fill Babovich's unexpired term
- ^ Term limits went into effect in 1991.
- ^ 1998-1999; resigned when elected La. Elections Commissioner
- ^ 2000; appointed to fill Terrell's unexpired term
- ^ 2000-2002; elected to fill Terrell's unexpired term
- ^ 1998-1999; died in office
- ^ 2000; appointed to fill Glapion's unexpired term
- ^ 2000-2002; elected to fill Glapion's unexpired term
- ^ 1998-2000; resigned when elected Clerk of First City Court
- ^ 2000; appointed to fill Hazeur-Distance's unexpired term
- ^ 2000-2002; elected to fill Hazeur-Distance's unexpired term
- ^ 2002-2004; resigned when elected Criminal Sheriff, 2004
- ^ 2004-2005; appointed to fill Gusman's unexpired term
- ^ 2005-2006; elected to fill Gusman's unexpired term
- ^ 2006-2007; resigned August 13, 2007
- ^ 2007; appointed to fill Thomas' unexpired term
- ^ 2007-2010; elected to fill Thomas' unexpired term
- ^ 2010-2011; resigned to head National Basketball Retired Players Association
- ^ 2011-2012; appointed to fill Fielkow's unexpired term
- ^ 2012-2014; elected to fill Fielkow's unexpired term
- ^ 2010-2012; resigned when elected to fill Fielkow's unexpired At-Large position
- ^ 2012; appointed to fill Head's unexpired term
- ^ 2012-2014; elected to fill Head's unexpired term
- ^ 2010-2012; resigned, 2012
- ^ 2012; appointed to fill Johnson's unexpired term
- ^ 2012-2014; elected to fill Johnson's unexpired term
- ^ Elected Mayor, 2018
External links
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