NAME: Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
YOUR CAMPAIGN WEB ADDRESS: http://www.cynthiahedge-morrell.com
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: 4925 Moore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122
Phone: (504) 286-2336
FAX: (504) 29602335
Email: cynthiahedgemorrell@gmail.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION:
Retired Principal, McDonogh #15 Magnet School
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION:
New Orleans City Council, District D
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION:
Masters of Science, Loyola University (1984)
APPLICABLE TRAINING:
Total Quality Management Program at UNO (1996)
Studied in China through Fulbright-Hay Research Grant (1990)
29 years as teacher and principal with the Orleans Parish Public Schools including McDonogh 15 and N.O.C.C.A. Academy
Integrated Business Office of Sears & Roebuck in the 1960's
CIVIC EXPERIENCE:
Former Director, Leadership Institute for the Louisiana Institute for Education in the Arts
Member, French Market Corporation
Board Trustee, Center for Development and Learning
Board Member, Holy Cross School
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS:
Member, Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee
Member, Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee
Alternate Delgegate to Democratic National Convention (Al Gore, 2000)
Delegate to Democratic National Convention (John Kerry. 2004)
Delegate to Democratic National Convention (Barack Obama, 2008)
1. Given the strong mayoral system established by our City Charter, what can Council members do to address the crime problem?
Council members can address crime in a variety of different ways:
a. The council can continue to pursue additional funding for the entire Criminal Court System (Juvenile Court, District Attorney, Police Department, Criminal Court and Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office) as well as the rehabilitation and/or relocation of the Juvenile Study Center.
b. The council can work to provide more funding for the New Orleans Recreation Department (N.O.R.D.) and push for more public-private partnerships for N.O.R.D. playground to get our children engaged in appropriate activities.
c. The council can work to promote new job creation as a deterrent to crime, by creating a more friendly business environment in which local businesses have ample opportunity to participate in economic development opportunities available through state and federal recovery dollars.
d. The council can encourage more public-private partnerships through the Horizon Initiative to further promote job creation as a deterrent to crime.
2. Would you support any level of decriminalization of drugs? If so, in what form?
I would support making 1sttime possession of marijuana a municipal offense with a summons issued which would free up our police officers to pursue more violent offenses and relieve jail overcrowding.
3. How do you propose to improve communication and cooperation between the Mayor's Office and City Council regarding such issues as adoption and oversight of the budget, supervision of Department heads, etc?
There are a few ways in which the council can work to improve communication with the next mayor of New Orleans:
a. We can engage the new mayor in conversations regarding priority based budgeting for departments and establish a yearlong dialogue on budget process so council and mayor are in step together.
b. We can encourage the new mayor to work on creating an ongoing dialogue regarding performance of department heads because we interact with these administration appointees on a daily basis, including; but not limited to, requiring monthly reports from department heads to their respective council committees.
c. We can more effectively use council committees to promote citizen engagement and follow-up regarding community issues. Then we can communicate these issues to the new administration on a bi-monthly or monthly basis.
4. What are your priorities for your District?
The priorities of District D are safe neighborhoods, state-of-the-art schools and libraries, well maintained streets and playgrounds and convenient shopping.
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