# New Orleans City Council

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.
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.

## Members

The 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. 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.
The current members of the New Orleans City Council:
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

## Council members 1803–1828

| 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, S. Landreau | Louis Lioteau, P. Profit | | | | | 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 | 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 |
| July 27, 1805 – March 8, 1807 | John Watkins | Felix Arnaud | Francois Duplessis, Joseph Faurie, D. Urquhart | Deflechier, Guy Dreux, Robelot | Antoine Argotte, Pierre Bertonnière, P. Profit | Antoine Carraby, Thomas L. Harman, P. Lavergne, Macdonaugh, S. Winter | John B. Macarty, Lebreton Deschapelles, Mayronne | François Joseph LeBreton Dorgenois, François M. Guerin, Thomas H. Porée | | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | J. Blanque, B. Marigny | James Freret, Antoine Carraby | Chevalier Doriocourt, Louis Foucher | Samuel C. Young | S. Henderson, Augustin de Macarty, Monlon |
| December 5, 1812 – September 4, 1815 | 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 | 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 |
| 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

Under 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. 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. 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. 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. Beginning in 2014 the at-large seats are voted on as separate offices, designated as Division 1 and Division 2. Effective June 1, 2018, the terms of office begin on the second Monday in January following the election.
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 | At-Large Seats | District Seats | District Seats | District Seats | District Seats | District Seats |
| Term | Division 1 | Division 2 | A | B | C | D | E |
| 1954-1958 | Glenn P. Clasen | Victor H. Schiro | A. Brown Moore | Paul V. Burke | James E. Fitzmorris | Fred J. Cassibry | Walter M. Duffourc |
| 1958-1962 | Glenn P. Clasen James A. Comiskey | Victor H. Schiro Theodore Hickey | Henry B. Curtis | Paul V. Burke | James E. Fitzmorris | Fred J. Cassibry John J. Petre | Theodore Hickey Walter M. Duffourc |
| 1962-1966 | James E. Fitzmorris | Joseph V. DiRosa | Henry B. Curtis | Walter F. Marcus | Clarence O. Dupuy, Jr. | John J. Petre | Daniel Kelly |
| 1966-1970 | John J. Petre | Moon Landrieu | Henry B. Curtis | Eddie L. Sapir | Clarence O. Dupuy, Jr. | James A. Moreau | Philip Ciaccio |
| 1970-1976 | Joseph V. DiRosa | James A. Moreau | Peter H. Beer Frank Friedler | Eddie L. Sapir A.L. Davis | Clarence O. Dupuy, Jr. | John D. Lambert | Philip Ciaccio |
| 1976-1978 | Joseph V. DiRosa | Joseph I. Giarrusso | Frank Friedler | A.L. Davis | Mike Early | Brod Bagert | Philip Ciaccio |
| 1978-1982 | Sidney J. Barthelemy | Joseph I. Giarrusso | Frank Friedler Joel Loeffleholz Bryan Wagner | James (Jim) Singleton | Mike Early | Brod Bagert Niles Hellmers Lambert Boissiere | Philip Ciaccio Howard Beck |
| 1982-1986 | Sidney J. Barthelemy | Joseph I. Giarrusso | Bryan Wagner | James (Jim) Singleton | Mike Early | Lambert Boissiere | Wayne Babovich Ulysses Williams |
| 1986-1990 | Dorothy Mae Taylor | Joseph I. Giarrusso | Peggy Wilson | James (Jim) Singleton | Mike Early | Lambert Boissiere | Johnny Jackson, Jr. |
| 1990-1994 | Dorothy Mae Taylor | Joseph I. Giarrusso | Peggy Wilson | James (Jim) Singleton | Jacquelyn B. Clarkson | Lambert Boissiere | Johnny Jackson, Jr. |
| 1994-1998 | Peggy Wilson | James (Jim) Singleton | Suzanne Haik Terrell | Oliver Thomas | Troy Carter | Roy Glapion | Ellen Hazeur-Distance |
| 1998-2002 | Eddie L. Sapir | James (Jim) Singleton | Suzanne Haik Terrell Howell Crosby Scott Shea | Oliver Thomas | Troy Carter | Roy Glapion H. Kenneth Johnston Marlin Gusman | Ellen Hazeur-Distance Lula Harris Breaux Cynthia Willard-Lewis |
| 2002-2006 | Eddie L. Sapir | Oliver Thomas | John A. Batt, Jr. | Renée Gill Pratt | Jacquelyn B. Clarkson | Marlin Gusman David Payton Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | Cynthia Willard-Lewis |
| 2006-2010 | Arnie Fielkow | Oliver Thomas Michael Darnell Jacquelyn B. Clarkson | Shelley Midura | Stacey Head | James Carter | Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | Cynthia Willard-Lewis |
| 2010-2014 | Arnie Fielkow Eric Granderson Stacey Head | Jacquelyn B. Clarkson | Susan Guidry | Stacey Head Diana Bajoie LaToya Cantrell | Kristen Gisleson Palmer | Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | Jon Johnson Ernest Charbonnet James Austin Gray II |
| 2014-2018 | Stacey Head | Jason Williams Donna Glapion | Susan Guidry | LaToya Cantrell | Nadine Ramsey | Jared C. Brossett | James Austin Gray II |
| 2018-2022 | Helena N. Moreno | Jason Williams Donna Glapion | Joseph I. Giarrusso III | Jay H. Banks | Kristen Gisleson Palmer | Jared C. Brossett | Cyndi Nguyen |
| 2022-2026 | Helena N. Moreno | Jean Paul "JP" Morrell | Joseph I. Giarrusso III | Lesli Harris | Freddie King III | Eugene J. Green | Oliver Thomas |

## Earlier members, under the commission form of government

* A. Brown Moore (Public utilities commissioner, 1950–1954)
* Lionel Ott (Finance commissioner, 1946–1954)