Bio:
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| New Orleans native John Georges, 49, has 30 years of experience in
the private and public sectors. He is a past member of the Board of
Regents and a current commissioner of the Public Belt Rail Road,
Chairman of Georges Enterprises and is involved with various
governmental, civic and philanthropic groups. In 2007, John ran for
elected office for the first time in the gubernatorial race, in which
he garnered 180,000 votes. In 2009- 2010, he has decided to run for
Mayor.
John has served a six-year term on the Louisiana Board of Regents,
the governing board of the state’s public university and community
college system. During his 6-year term on the Board of Regents, a slate
of reforms were ushered in. Since 1998 he has served on the Board of
Commissioners of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. He currently
serves on the Board of Trustees of his children’s school, Country Day
Academy. He is a former member of the LSU Medical Foundation, the UNO
Foundation, and the Tulane President’s Council. He also serves as a
trustee for Crimestoppers. From 2004 to 2006, John served as President
of Holy Trinity Cathedral of New Orleans. John is a member of the New
Orleans Business Council, and is Past Chairman of the Louisiana Chapter
of Young President’s Organization, an organization of corporate
executives under the age of 50. He is also a member of the Board of
Trustees of the National World War II Museum.
John is married to Dathel Coleman Georges, who is an integral part
of the Georges Mayoral Campaign. Dathel began the group Women for
Georges, which claims a rapidly growing list of women who support
John’s candidacy. John and Dathel have three children, Zana, Liza and
Nike. His mother Anita, and siblings Pam, Alexa and Constantine, all
live in New Orleans.
John Georges has served or is currently serving with the following organizations:
- Public Belt Railroad
- Tulane University President’s Council
- University of New Orleans Foundation Member
- LSU Medical Foundation Member
- Louisiana Board of Regents
- World Trade Center Board of Directors
- New Orleans Business Council
- Jefferson Business Council
- New Orleans Chamber of Council Board of Directors
- Young Presidents Organization – Louisiana Chairman
- Young Presidents Organization – Vice President Western Region
- Metairie Park Country Day School Recovery Chairman, Board Member
- Crimestoppers Board of Directors
- Young Leadership Council of New Orleans Member
- Holy Trinity Cathedral President
- New Orleans Greek Community – President
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Websites:
Response to Candidate Survey Mr. Georges did not respond to EngageNOLA's Candidate Survey. Below are links to his responses on issues though other sources.
Governance
"As mayor I will work closely with Jim Letten and all other components of the criminal justic system to weed out corruption"
- BayouBuzz.com 1/12/10
1.
What specific steps will you take to ease citizens’ ability to work
with city government and to access public records, information, and
services? Also, how will you make city government more accessible and
responsive to non-English speakers?
2.
Our city has suffered in recent years because of ongoing quarrels and
distrust between the Mayor’s office and the City Council. What
immediate steps will you take to work with the City Council on critical
issues facing our city? Please be specific.
3.
Citizens and organizations such as the NAACP and the Louisiana Justice
Institute have voiced concerns about a number of issues involving the
Office of the Inspector General, including: Inspector General turnover;
OIG office and Ethics Review Board misconduct in spending, hiring, and
firing; allegations of racism and sexism in the office; and the lack of
a policy and procedures manual. How will you address these concerns
working in coordination with the new advisory committee, and make
changes that are both needed and acceptable to concerned citizens?
4.
Some say the budget approval process does not provide enough time for
thorough review, does not allow for community participation, is not
readily available for public scrutiny, and lacks full disclosure of
each agency’s budget. Are these valid criticisms, and, if so, how would
you address each?
5. What are the qualifications you require for hiring a Chief Administrative Officer?
6.
How will you address quality of life and employment concerns for young
professionals, both natives and newcomers, so that New Orleans can
remain nationally competitive and attractive as a place to live?
Economic Development
8.
Will you revive the public-private partnership responsible for economic
development that was discontinued by the current Mayor?
Environmental
9.
As Mayor, what steps can you take within 4 years to ensure
implementation of federal, state, and private coastal restoration
projects; and which efforts do you think are most likely to be
successful?
Infrastructure
10.
How will you address neglected properties, both public and private,
such as city-owned buildings, the Hyatt Regency, recreation centers,
and the old Tulane Public Health School building; crumbling
neighborhood streets; and widespread blight left in disrepair since
Hurricane Katrina?
Education
11.
What is your view on city government’s role in education (for example,
do you support a mayoral takeover of public schools)? State your goals
in this regard and a strategy for achieving them.
Housing
12.
What concrete steps will you take to ensure that the city’s low-income
residents are able to secure affordable, safe, and secure housing?
Public Safety
"As mayor I will work closely with Jim Letten and all other components of the criminal justic system to weed out corruption"
- BayouBuzz.com 1/12/10Regarding his infamous remarks to the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee calling for the removal of U.S.. Attorney Jim Letten, Georges said he made a “mistake.”
[BayouBuzz.com 1/22/10]
13.
Responsibility for the safety and development of young people in the
Youth Study Center falls to the mayor and his/her appointees. What will
you do to ensure that the renovation/rebuilding of the YSC will result
in the best possible environment for rehabilitation of youth, and that
the process of construction is aligned with reform and best practices?
What is your vision for the new facility?
14. What is your position on conducting a national search for a city police Superintendant?
15.
Prosecutors are facing the intractable problem of persuading witnesses
and victims to testify in criminal cases. Citizens are distrustful of
the New Orleans Police Department. What steps will you take to remedy
these problems?
16.
Formerly incarcerated persons compose ten percent of New Orleans’
population and the recidivism rate in our community is fifty percent
within five years. What are your plans to make the employment of
formerly incarcerated persons a condition, or a factor, in the awarding
of city contracts? What efforts will you take to create incentives for
businesses within Orleans Parish to hire formerly incarcerated persons
in our community?