Jefferson Parish Council

The Honorable Aaron Broussard

Born in 1949 in Marksville, Louisiana, Aaron F. Broussard moved to Kenner in 1958. He graduated from East Jefferson High School in 1966, attended Louisiana State University, University of Southeastern Louisiana and then graduated from LSU of New Orleans with a BA in History in 1970. In 1973, he received a Law Degree from Loyola University.

In 1974, Aaron was elected to the Jefferson Parish School Board and re-elected in 1976 by 92% of the vote.

In 1977, he was elected as a District Chairman to the Jefferson Parish Council and then re-elected in 1981.

In 1982, he was elected Mayor of the City of Kenner. While serving as Mayor, the city experienced a boom in economic growth. In 1983 Rivertown, a collection of family-oriented museums was developed. The Esplanade Mall, one of the State's most successful shopping areas, was built in 1985 and in 1991 Mayor Broussard was the driving force in building the Pontchartrain Center; an all-purpose center that holds attractions such as conventions, sporting events, trade shows, graduations and Mardi Gras Balls. He was re-elected for a second term as Mayor by 91% of the vote in 1986, and re-elected in 1990. In 1994, he was unopposed in the election to serve as Kenner's Mayor for a fourth term.

In 1995, he was elected Chairman of the Jefferson Parish Council by 81% of the vote. As Chairman of the Jefferson Parish Council, he garnered public input on governmental proceedings in a first of its kind priorities conference entitled JEFF 2000.

Under Broussard's leadership as Council Chairman, the Parish has embarked on the most extensive capital improvement initiative in Jefferson's history; including the $245 million road improvement program as well as the $475 million, ongoing, Southeast Louisiana Flood Control Project (SELA). Chairman Broussard was instrumental in establishing the Jefferson Office of Tourism and Tourism Advisory Board. He also served as Chairman of the Regional Planning Commission.

In 1999, Aaron was re-elected Council Chairman of Jefferson Parish without opposition.

In October 2003, Broussard was elected as Jefferson Parish President to serve a four-year term beginning January 2004. Within his first year of office, Broussard has already achieved a list of accomplishments including organizing a priorities conference, JEFF 007, to, once again, gain public input to streamline and consolidate various parish departments and services.

With a general fund crisis at hand, he developed a plan to rededicate funds to provide needed services in areas which were under funded or not funded at all. In November 2004, voters approved the plan allowing funding for economic development, senior citizen services, culture and parks and criminal justice.

Through his years in public service he has served on various committees and boards and has been awarded with many prestigious honors including President of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors and was recognized by the U. S. Conference of Mayors for his distinguished leadership in culture, arts and civic programs when the City of Kenner received the Livability Award and the National Association of Counties Award for his safety efforts. He was a United States Presidential appointee for Tourism.

In December 2000, Aaron received JEDCO Chairman's Award for the Year 2000 Champion of Economic Development. Aaron was elected President for the Louisiana Conference of Mayors for the years 2000 and 2001. In 2002, he was awarded with Legislator of the Year by the Alliance of Good Government.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Aaron initiated Operation Lifeline to provide medical care and other services to neighborhoods throughout the parish and led recovery efforts including clearing roadways and restoring vital public services such as water, sewer and drainage. JumpStart Jefferson was put in place to help businesses reopen and to provide the necessary goods and services for the recovery.

He carried the message to Washington that the region needed 100-year Hurricane protection, including higher and armored levees, completion of all drainage projects under the SELA program, improved pumping capacity at the surge gate at the mouth of the 17th Street Canal, surge gates on the Harvey Canal and Company Canal on the West Bank and secure flood protection on the east side of the Harvey Canal. Well before Katrina, Aaron founded the award-winning organization PACE, Parishes Against Coastal Erosion, to find efficient, expedient methods to protect our coast, preserve our wildlife habitats, and breathe new life into our seafood industry.

Following Katrina, Aaron ordered a complete overhaul of Jefferson Parish's emergency disaster plan and oversaw the building of eight safe rooms to keep parish pump station operators safe and on the job even during the most severe hurricanes.

Under the Parish President's leadership, Jefferson Parish recovered quickly after Katrina and led the region's recovery effort. Over 4,000 net new businesses opened in Jefferson Parish and the parish led the nation in job growth in the year after Katrina.

In July of 2007, parish voters overwhelmingly approved an expansion of the use of the property tax dedicated to paying the parish's local match for federal SELA drainage projects to allow for surplus funds to be used for local drainage capital projects. This was another innovation to improve drainage and better protect the parish from tropical weather and everyday rainstorms without raising taxes.

On October, 2007, Aaron was re-elected to his second term as Parish President.

Aaron lives in Kenner with his wife Karen.

The Honorable John F. Young Jr.

 

Education

Loyola University School of Law
Juris Doctor, May 1982

Loyola University
Bachelor of Public Administration, May 1979

Experience

Jefferson Parish Council January 7, 2004 - Present
Elected as Councilman-at-Large, Division A Council Chairman 2004 - 2005; 2006-2007
Goals include economic development, improving education, fiscal responsibility and uniting Jefferson Parish.

Of Counsel, Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale June 2004 - Present

District Attorney, Parish of Jefferson February 1997 - January 2004
Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Administration and Chief of Parish Courts responsible for supervision of all personnel and financial aspects of the organization as well as prosecution of DWI, misdemeanor and traffic offenses parish-wide.

Attorney in Private Practice 1982 - Present

Awards

Recipient, Gambit Weekly's "Best Jefferson Parish Council Member Award" 2006
Recipient, Alliance For Good Government "Legislator of the Year Award" 2004
Recipient, Crimefighters "Outstanding Prosecutor Award" 2003
Recipient, Victims and Citizens Against Crime "Outstanding Prosecutor Award" 1998, 2001

Civic Involvement

Chairman, Governor's Vehicular Homicide - DWI Task Force 2001 - 2004
Vice-Chairman of Public Police, New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce 1999 - 2001
Board of Directors, New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce 1998 - 2000
Chairman, E.J. Council of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce 1998 - 1999
Member, NOAPAC 1996 - 2000
Chairman, Governmental Affairs Committee of E.J. Council Executive Committee 1996 - 1997
Fellow, Jefferson Chamber Leadership Institute 1995
Fellow, Loyola University Institute of Politics 1991
Board of Directors, St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyers Association
Southeast Louisiana DWI Task Force
French-American Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Chapter

Professional Associations

Leadership Jefferson, Class of 2002
Louisiana State, Federal and National Law Bar Associations
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
Member, Board of Directors, St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyers Association, 2002 - 2004
SELA DWI Task Force
Louisiana District Attorneys Association
French-American Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Chapter

Publications

Co-Author Admiralty, Fifth Circuit Symposium, 34 Loyola Law Review 699, 1989
Author, The Seaman-Handling the Everyday Problems Before Litigation, 1988 River Industry Seminar

Personal

Graduated from DeLaSalle High School, New Orleans
Father of five sons
Life-long resident of Metairie

The Honorable Thomas J. Capella

Councilman Thomas 'Tom' Capella was born in New Orleans, LA. He is the youngest of ten children of the late Lillian McCormack and the late Bernard J. Capella. Councilman Capella graduated from Jesuit High School in 1983 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management at Tulane University in 1987. He received a Juris Doctor from the Tulane University School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in 1993. He is a member of the LA State Bar Assoc. and Jefferson Bar Assoc.; and has been admitted to practice before all LA State Courts and the Federal District Courts in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of LA. He was elected to the LA House of Representatives for District 88 in 2001. In 2003, he was elected to the Jefferson Parish Council as Councilman-at-Large, Division B.

Councilman Capella is married to Stephanie Carroll Blanke, a former parochial school teacher. He and Stephanie have two daughters, 5 year old Sophie and 3 month old Eliza Jane. Devoted to youth, he has coached for the past decade in the athletic program of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO); helped children's charities as a member of the Directors' Circle of the Fore Kids Foundation; serves disabled children as a member of the Finance Committee of St. Michael's Special School; and leads the Jesuit High School Alumni Association as Class Captain. Committed to improving the quality of the life of Jefferson Parish, Councilman Capella is a member of the Pontchartrain Shores Civic Association and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.

Councilman Capella, 40, has practiced law with the Capella Law Firm in Metairie, LA since 1993. Councilman Capella was elected to the LA House of Representatives as State Representative for District 88, in 2001. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Councilman Capella won the respect of legislators and the Governor for his leadership. He was a member of the House Insurance and Judiciary Committee. He co-authored and passed the LA Anti-Terrorism Act; established the LA Health Works Commission; protected the benefits and rights for those called into military service; created the Governors Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation; and helped municipalities fund vital economic development projects. Governor Mike Foster credited Councilman Capella for saving the popular TOPS scholarship program during 2002 Regular Session.

Councilman Capella is now serving as Chairman of Jefferson Parish Council. He believes his legislative experience in the LA House of Representatives and his training in management and law at Tulane University has prepared him to continue his public service on the Jefferson Parish Council. The Councilman-at-Large position opens the door for Councilman Capella to bring new energy and fresh ideas to the Jefferson Parish Council. Councilman Capella's legislative experience, along with relationships in State government, will be a valuable asset to the new Council.

The Honorable Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts is a lifelong resident of Jefferson Parish. He graduated from Our Lady of Holy Cross College (OLHCC) in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in Marketing. He is currently serving his second term representing the citizens of District 1 on the Jefferson Parish Council. In 1998, at the age of 21, Chris was elected to the Jefferson Parish School Board with 60% of the vote. In 2001, Chris was elected by his colleagues on the Jefferson Parish School Board to serve as the youngest School Board President in Louisiana history. On the school board he co-authored the Violence Prevention Program to teach students conflict resolution alternatives and to arrest students and hold parents responsible for children that repeatedly fight on campus.

He currently holds memberships in the Optimist Club of the Westbank, Victims and Citizens Against Crime, Louisiana Boys and Girls Club, Terrytown Civic Association, the Westbank Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club International, the Knights of Columbus Council 6870 and the Jefferson Historical Society of LA. He is also an Honorary Member of the Terrytown Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Honorary Leadership Council for the America's Energy Coast. Aside from his public service, Chris is a partner with the Rainbow Automotive Family of GM and Chrysler dealerships and operates quick service franchises in Jefferson Parish. In 1995, Chris received the Archbishop Shaw High School Silver Eagle Award for Service. He is the recipient of the 2006 Holy Cross College Alumnus of the Year Award and the 2007 JEDCO Champion of Economic Development Award.

Since his election to the seat of Councilman, he has made drastic improvements to the drainage, streets and recreation facilities in District 1. His fight against blighted property led him to author the Jefferson Parish Environmental Court. This court was established to hold deadbeat slumlords accountable by use of civil and criminal penalties. Councilman Roberts works very close with the local law enforcement on crime issues and serves on the Jefferson Parish Crime Prevention and Reduction Task Force.

His top priority has been and will continue to be completion of the levees and floodwall along the Harvey Canal. He has personally made several trips to Washington DC to secure the funds and property needed to complete this project. District 1 is home to a very diverse culture which host the Gretna Heritage Festival, Lafitte Seafood Festival and the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo. In 2008 Councilman Roberts will serve as the 80th President of the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo.

The Honorable Elton M. Lagasse

Elton M. Lagasse has had a distinguished career in the field of education for the past 42 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from McNeese State College, Masters Degree in Education Administration from Loyola University and received a certification in Secondary Education, Administration and Supervision from Southeastern Louisiana University.

In 1961 he began his teaching and coaching career with the Jefferson Parish Public School System at Kenner Junior High School. Elton was elected to the Jefferson Parish School Board in 1981. While serving on the School Board, he took his talents to Delgado Community College where he began as a coordinator and in 1987 was promoted to Dean. Mr. Lagasse was appointed as Superintendent of the Jefferson Parish Public School System in 1994.

In 2003, Mr. Lagasse ran for and was elected to Jefferson Parish Council District 2. In January of 2004, he began serving his term as Councilman of District 2 which encompasses areas on the East & West Banks of Jefferson Parish. And, in 2005, he was elected by his fellow Council members to serve as Vice-President of the Council, a position he held until March 2006.

The Honorable Byron L. Lee

Byron L. Lee was elected as Councilman of District 3, Jefferson Parish on November 15, 2003 and was inaugurated into office on January 7, 2004. Councilman Lee is the husband of Karen Thompson-Lee and the proud father of two sons: Jarrett and Jourdan. Councilman Lee is a graduate of West Jefferson High School and proud alumni of Southeastern Louisiana University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing.

Councilman Lee is the owner of Maxima Group and the Managing Partner of Hometown Investment Group. He has been involved with a number of associations including: West Jefferson Levee District, Johnny Jacobs Playground, Metrovision, JEDCO and the Jefferson Business Council. Councilman Lee is also a Board Member of Thompson-Thibodeaux Community Development Corporation and Faith Academy School.

Councilman Lee is one of two Jefferson Parish Councilmembers who represent both the East and West Bank in Jefferson Parish. Councilman Lee's major initiative since he has been in office has been the institution of a parishwide Community Healthcare Network, Housing initiatives for low to moderate income families, and he is a vocal supporter of Public Transit.

The Honorable Louis J. Congemi

Louis J. Congemi is an active, lifelong resident of Kenner, Louisiana. The son of first-generation Italian-American immigrants, Louis is no stranger to dedication and hard work. At age 12 Louis began working with his father, Sam Congemi. They worked together for over twenty years in his father's shoe repair business. The business was sold in 1985.

Following his graduation from East Jefferson High School in 1967, Louis continued his education earning a bachelor's degree in education from Loyola University in 1972. He was an educator in the Jefferson Parish School System for 11 years.

In 1982, Louis was elected to the Kenner City Council. During his 14 years of service as councilman, Louis was elected four times by his fellow councilmembers as Vice President of the Council.

Louis was elected Mayor of the City of Kenner in 1996. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2002. During Louis' tenure as mayor, his administration was highlighted by numerous major accomplishments including Project Blueprint, which established a capitol budget allowing for $20 million in infrastructure improvements, Green & Growing, a beautification project credited with planting over 3,000 trees in the area, and founding Kenner City Park. In addition, his administration is credited with the Laketown expansion as well as major improvements to Rivertown.

In October of 2003, Louis J. Congemi was elected Jefferson Parish Councilman, District 4. In 2004, Louis served as Vice President of the Council. Since being elected to the Council, he has worked diligently to preserve the safety and integrity of neighborhoods, to clean up blight, to facilitate improvements to Lafreniere Park and to improve infrastructure and flood protection.

Councilman Louis J. Congemi has been elected eight times to public office serving his community since 1982. He is a member and a past grand marshal of the Louisiana Irish-Italian Association and a founding member of the City of Kenner's Italian Heritage Festival.

Louis is married to Mildred Zorick and is the father of a son, Louis Congemi, Jr., and a daughter, Debbie Congemi.

The Honorable Jennifer L. Sneed

Elected with an overwhelming 81% of the vote, Jennifer Sneed was sworn in as a member of the Jefferson Parish Council in January 2004. She won the post with the strong support of civic and business leaders and good government groups from across the parish. As Councilwoman of District 5, Jennifer has consistently worked to eliminate waste in Parish spending, preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods, and improve infrastructure. She has diligently fought on behalf of families devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Being an outspoken voice on behalf of Jefferson Parish residents, she has continued to demand accountability and swift action from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Government for hurricane protection and drainage improvements.

Jennifer Sneed grew up in District 5 and attended St. Martin's Episcopal School. After graduating from Louisiana State University, she worked as a reporter and news anchor in Monroe, Louisiana. She returned to Jefferson Parish to work in Government as an aide in the administration of Jefferson Parish President Tim Coulon.

In 1999, Jennifer out-campaigned 13 opponents to win a seat in the Louisiana Legislature. As State Representative for District 81, Jennifer earned a solid reputation as a legislator fighting to cut taxes, slash government waste, and protect the homestead exemption.

In 2000, 2002 and 2003, Jennifer was honored as "Legislator of the Year" by Victims and Citizens Against Crime and Crimefighters for her hard work on behalf of the victims of crime and their families. In 2001 the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) presented Jennifer its "Outstanding Service Award" for her energetic and untiring efforts on behalf of seniors in Jefferson Parish. Sneed was also voted "The Best Jefferson Parish Council Member" by the readers of Gambit Weekly. In 2006 Jennifer was named Legislator of the Year by the Alliance for Good Government.

Councilwoman Jennifer Sneed has been at the forefront of the effort to bring smart, well planned growth to Jefferson Parish including sponsoring new legislation regulating high rise residential development, new legislation limiting stadiums in neighborhoods and she retained a nationally renowned firm to revitalize Fat City. She also sponsored a master neighborhood plan for Bucktown, and numerous other reforms of parish government.

Jennifer is married to Fred Heebe. They have twin daughters and live in Old Metairie.