Should the City Council have the authority to sign off on a New Orleans mayor’s appointments? The council will take the first steps towards answering that question for themselves at today’s regular meeting.
Council President Helena Moreno and Council VP JP Morrell have proposed altering the City Charter to give the council the power to reject a mayor’s appointments to positions like NOPD Superintendant. Political analyst Clancy DuBos told WWL that policy isn’t revolutionary, and that type of procedure is already in place at the federal level, and in many other municipalities.
“Plenty of other cities do, Seattle, Milwaukee, Washington D.C., Jacksonville,” said DuBos. “Here in Louisiana Jefferson Parish has a system where the Parish President nominates people to serve in various departments and the council vets them and approves them.”
DuBos noted that such a policy would’ve potentially prevented former city official Peter Bowen from taking office. Bowen, a former member of the short-term rental industry, was appointed to supervise STRs in the city, and ultimately lost his job after getting busted for allegedly driving drunk.
The mayor formally opposed the proposal in a letter sent to the City Council, setting the stage for a political battle between the executive and legislative branches that may ultimately have to be decided by voters. The Mayor contends passage would "grind local government to a halt at the beginning of new terms for future mayors and city councils".
The proposal is likely to be kicked to committee today, and spend weeks winding its way through the city’s legislative process. If ultimately approved by the council voters will have the final say in the November election.
DuBos argued this move doesn’t strip the mayor of power, it just adds an extra layer of accountability.
“It simply gives future councils and future citizens the chance to look at the qualifications of people instead of the mayor appointing whoever he or she wants,” said DuBos who noted that since the city charter was adopted seven decades ago New Orleans has had a city government with an empowered mayor.
