Councilmember at Large

League of Women Voters^®
of New Orleans

Candidate Information

Stacy Head

NAME: Stacy S. Head
YOUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE ADDRESS: http://www.stacyhead.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://facebook.com/electstacyhead
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION:
Address: P.O. Box 50452, New Orleans, LA 70150
Phone: 504-521-6891
Email: stacyheadcampaign@gmail.com
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
PROFESSION: Non-practicing attorney
PRESENT EMPLOYER/POSITION (if self-employed, what type of business): Councilmember, District B, New Orleans
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION (include graduation date): JD, Louisiana State University, 1995
APPLICABLE TRAINING: n/a
CIVIC EXPERIENCE (100 word limit): I have been volunteered for, and served on, the Boards of several organizations, including Kingsley House, the Central City Partnership, Eden House, the Preservation Resource Center and Dress for Success.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS (100 word limit):I have had the privilege of serving as the Councilmember for District B for the last six years. I am currently a member of the Independent Women's Organization.
1. Given the strong mayoral system established by our City Charter, what can Councilmembers do to address the crime problem?
Long term strategies to reduce crime have been implemented including improved funding for recreation and improved educational opportunities. But the short-term solutions have not yet been implemented. My proposals, which I believe will ultimately be supported by the Council and the administration, are three-fold. First, we should increase the number of officers on the streets through bringing in 150 Louisiana State Troopers, reassignments of NOPD desk duties to civilians, increasing our reserve forces, and allowing more NOPD overtime. Second, we should mandate that all current NOPD officers undergo training with the FBI and prosecutors to assure physical fitness, improved investigation techniques, professional interactions with the public and improved report writing and court testimony. Third, we should urge the state to increase the number of probation and parole officers in Orleans Parish to allow more regular intervention with parolees, to reduce recidivism.
2. Please discuss the current budget process and any changes that you would like to implement.
Through agreement between the Council and the administration, the administration's 2012 budget proposal was provided to the Council earlier than ever before. This allowed the Council to gain more input from the public and hold hearings over a longer period of time. Improvements in the future would include greater public awareness and engagement during both the time period that the administration develops the budget and the Council's hearings.
3. With the recent listing that the city has provided on social services for children and families, how do you propose to fill the gaps and make improvements?
Unfortunately, budget cuts, most particularly in mental health, have created gaps in needed services. The Council should continue to advocate for the state to properly assume its responsibility for providing mental health services, most particularly in-patient psychiatric beds in Orleans Parish. In addition, the Council should encourage increased psychiatric services in schools for children and their families, much like those provided for by the LSU Department of Psychiatry in many of our area public schools. To augment such services, the city can, and is, using federal grant dollars matched with non-profit institutions like Daughters of Charity and St. Thomas Health Clinic.

Cynthia Willard-Lewis

No Response.

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