Andy Kopplin
Encyclopedia
Andy Kopplin is the former chief of staff to Louisiana Governors Mike Foster
(Republican) and Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
(Democrat). He has also served as Executive Director with the Louisiana Recovery Authority
. Kopplin is a graduate of Rice University
and the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
.
He ran in the special election
to fill Louisiana's 6th congressional
seat which was vacated by retiring congressman Richard Baker
. However, he finished fourth of five in the Democratic primary on March 8, 2008. This defeat ended his campaign for the seat.
Following very closely on the heels of his primary defeat, Kopplin was hired as the Executive Vice President of Growth Strategy and Development for Teach For America
. On May 4, 2010, the mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, appointed him first deputy mayor and chief administrative officer.
Teach For America
(TFA) touted his experience as the founding executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority
(LRA) as beneficial to his post. "Under Kopplin’s leadership, the LRA developed the strategy and built the bipartisan coalitions that more than doubled congressional appropriations for Louisiana’s rebuilding, from $13 billion to $28 billion. The LRA also produced visionary community and regional rebuilding plans and led the charge for important political reforms like the state takeover of the failing New Orleans school system.".
Murphy J. Foster, Jr.
Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. served as 53rd Governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St...
(Republican) and Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was the 54th Governor of Louisiana, having served from January 2004 until January 2008. She was the first woman to be elected to the office of governor of Louisiana....
(Democrat). He has also served as Executive Director with the Louisiana Recovery Authority
Louisiana Recovery Authority
The Louisiana Recovery Authority is the governmental body created in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita by Governor Kathleen Blanco to plan for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana...
. Kopplin is a graduate of Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He ran in the special election
Louisiana's 6th congressional district special election, 2008
The February 2, 2008 resignation of Republican Richard Baker triggered a special election for Louisiana's 6th district. In anticipation of this election, party qualifying occurred before Baker's resignation. The timeline mirrored that of the 2008 special election for the 1st congressional district...
to fill Louisiana's 6th congressional
Louisiana's 6th congressional district
Louisiana's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located in south-central Louisiana, the district contains the state capital of Baton Rouge and its suburbs and the western half of the Florida Parishes and areas west and south of Baton Rouge...
seat which was vacated by retiring congressman Richard Baker
Richard Baker (politician)
Richard Hugh Baker , an American politician,is a lobbyist and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, having represented the 6th District of Louisiana from 1987 to 2008.-Early life and career:...
. However, he finished fourth of five in the Democratic primary on March 8, 2008. This defeat ended his campaign for the seat.
Following very closely on the heels of his primary defeat, Kopplin was hired as the Executive Vice President of Growth Strategy and Development for Teach For America
Teach For America
Teach For America is an American non-profit organization that aims to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach for two or more years in low-income communities throughout the United States...
. On May 4, 2010, the mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, appointed him first deputy mayor and chief administrative officer.
Teach For America
Teach For America
Teach For America is an American non-profit organization that aims to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach for two or more years in low-income communities throughout the United States...
(TFA) touted his experience as the founding executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority
Louisiana Recovery Authority
The Louisiana Recovery Authority is the governmental body created in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita by Governor Kathleen Blanco to plan for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana...
(LRA) as beneficial to his post. "Under Kopplin’s leadership, the LRA developed the strategy and built the bipartisan coalitions that more than doubled congressional appropriations for Louisiana’s rebuilding, from $13 billion to $28 billion. The LRA also produced visionary community and regional rebuilding plans and led the charge for important political reforms like the state takeover of the failing New Orleans school system.".