Councilmember-at-Large

League of Women Voters^®
of New Orleans

Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson

NAME: Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
CAMPAIGN WEB ADDRESS: http://www.jackieclarkson.org
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: 2657 Danbury Drive, NOLA 70131
Phone: 392-2092
FAX: 394-0444
E-mail: clarkson1@cox.net
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Realtor
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION Owner/broker Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson Realtors
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION: attended Tulane University; Graduate, Realtors Institute
APPLICABLE TRAINING: Certified in Real Estate Management, Certified Residential Specialist
CIVIC EXPERIENCE: Founding Member, National World War II Museum; Louisiana Philharmonic Advisory Board; Former Trustee New Orleans Museum of Art; University of New Orleans Board for Business and Higher Education; Board of Governors Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre; Board of Cabrini High School; Advisory Board Delgado College; New Orleans Military Advisory Committee; New Orleans Federal Alliance for Federal City; LSU/Tulane Cancer Research Center Consortium; Board of Ambassadors Holy Cross College; NORD/NOBA Ballet Advisory Board, Save our Cemeteries, Audubon Institute; Board Member Catholic Cultural and Heritage Center of New Orleans.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS: City Council District C, 1990-94; Elected three times State Representative District 102, 1994-2002; City Council District 2002-2006
1. What changes, if any, would you make to the Master Plan for the City of New Orleans? Will you strictly adhere to the plan in application of zoning laws?

I have always been a strong supporter of the comprehensive zoning code in an effort to de-politicize the zoning process. I am on record for the establishment of the Master Plan. My immediate concern is updating, codifying and strict enforcement of the comprehensive zoning code.

2. Honesty and kickbacks are high on the list of voter concerns. What measures will you take to ensure that mayors and city council members hire the best-qualified contractors rather than the most politically connected contractors?

We must fully fund and grant total autonomy to the office of Inspector General who should not be at the mercy of political considerations by council members regarding his budget. I propose that, by law, we subject all contracts, including professional services to the public bid process. I authored bills in the legislature for contractual changes for ethics reform.

3. Do you intend to follow the lead of district council members on land use matters?

Only if the lead of district council members on land use follows the comprehensive zoning code and adheres to the Master Plan will I join them.

4. What is your solution to setting the millage rates for the City's share of property taxes for 2008?

Due to the increase of assessments, the City Council is by law required to roll back the millages. I would not be in favor of a roll forward, especially during this trying time for the city. I would be in favor of an audit to evaluate the current inventory of millages of the various recipient entities and to determine how the money is being spent. The council should take the lead on all other recipient agencies to roll back millages.

5. What steps will you take to improve the physical appearance of New Orleans?

I would like to create Clean Teams in every neighborhood, as I did in the French Quarter. The appropriate city departments, such as Sanitation and Park and Parkways, would assist them. The city should make every effort to work with citizen-lead groups who take the initiative in replanting, litter abatement, public place beautification, etc.

6. The problems of abandoned properties, citizens rebuilding their homes, releasing land for business development and other housing, and the values of surrounding properties are intrinsically linked to the over-all quality of life in the City. What further measures can the City Council take to expedite the solutions?

In the legislature, I authored the state law to allow the City the right to donate abandoned and adjudicated properties. As this has never been effectively used to liquidate the massive inventory of blighted properties in the city, I will take that lead as Council-at-Large.

7. The Sewerage and Water Board services to the City prior to Katrina needed serious upgrades to infrastructure. Will you undertake to provide sufficient funding for those upgrades?

First, I intend to hold FEMA fully accountable for monies already due, but never delivered to the Sewerage and Water Board, for much of the repair work. Secondly, I will work with our Congressional and State delegations to fund many of the necessary upgrades.

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