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The Race for
City Council-at-Large

Perhaps the most coveted seats on the New Orleans City Council are the two at-large positions. Elected citywide, these at-large members possess power vested in them by the entire voting public.

They also often emerge as de-facto leaders on the council and can help set the tone for the entire council.

A number of candidates are vying for the two at-large posts. The New Orleans Tribune has met with both incumbents and significant challengers.

There are a number of areas where the candidates simply agree. Most speak of providing more resources to NORD, expanding opportunities for homeownership, focusing on crime and public safety issues, expanding and expediting the return of city-wide healthcare availability, and bringing respect and civility back to government, especially in light of the past four years in which council relations among its members, with the mayor’s office and, at times, even with the citizenry have often been contentious, if not downright uncivil.

Picking the best candidates for these positions becomes critical as the success of any reform might heavily depend on the ability of these at-large members to accomplish that latter goal.

Here’s a look at four of the candidates for the two at-large seats on the New Orleans City Council.

Jackie Brechtel Clarkson

Councilwoman-at-Large Jackie Brechtel Clarkson is running to hold on to her seat, which she won in the 2008 special election.

Clarkson’s career as an elected official spans 20 years. She was first elected as the District C representative in 1990, serving two terms there. She also served two terms in the state legislature.

If re-elected, Clarkson says she will focus on creating and maintaining more efficiency in city government. She points to her support for the creation of the Inspector General’s Office as evidence of her commitment in this area. In fact, Clarkson drafted the city charter amendment that permanently established the Office of the Inspector General in New Orleans.

While she is dedicated to supporting and expanding the hospitality and tourism industries that drive the city’s economy, Clarkson also supports innovative ideas in developing the broader economy as well, such as maintaining and augmenting the military industry that contributes to the city’s economy and encouraging the creation of a biomedical healthcare industry as a “major pillar” of the city’s economic engine.

For more information on Council-at-Large candidate Jackie Brechtel Clarkson, go to www.jackieclarkson.com.

Arnie Fielkow

Councilman at-large Arnie Fielkow is seeking re-election, he says, so that he can be a part of continuing to move the city forward.

“That’s the reason I ran four years ago, but we still have a lot to do,” he says. “After four years we still have a lot of challenges. I’d very much like to be part of the leadership to move the city forward.”

If re-elected, Fielkow says he will focus on improving crime and public safety, hurricane evacuations and emergency preparedness, economic development, expanding recreational and education opportunities for the city’s youth, improving the city’s housing situation and access to healthcare.

To increase funding to the city’s recreation department, Fielkow supports a dedicated property tax.

“We have the opportunity to take up the best practices and bring NORD back to a level of great success here,” he says. “Why wouldn’t we want to pay for it on the front end to give our kids real access and opportunities.”
With respect to economic development, one of the reforms created by the current council that Fielkow wants to be a part of seeing through is the law that sets a standard for the city’s contracts with local and disadvantaged businesses.

“I think we’ve done some things in the legislative area that are good and beneficial. I worked hard on economic development. The law was passed last summer where a minimum 50 percent of business is kept locally and 35 percent goes to disadvantaged businesses will have a long standing term benefit. We have not enforced it. And although it is now law, what we need is an enforcement arm. We need to make sure that the next mayor is going to create an office with capacity to enforce.”

For more information on Council-at-Large candidate Arnie Fielkow, go to www.fielkowcitycouncil.com.