Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell is a teacher, a former school administrator and a Democratic politician from New Orleans.
and a master of science
from Loyola University New Orleans
.
. District D covers the Gentilly
Area and parts of New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward
.
Hedge-Morrell was re-elected, with a reduced majority, in 2006. A number of her colleagues faced disgruntlement related to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
. Mayor C. Ray Nagin won re-election only after facing a much tougher challenge than expected before the hurricane and half of the members who wished to stay were not back on the City Council.
, as in a 30 July 2009 oral duel over garbage-collection fees, which Head had a long history of criticizing as being too high and too subsidized by the city's general fund.
since 1984, before being elected Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court in 2006. District 97 roughly covers the same area as District D. Hedge-Morrell and her spouse were among the participants in movie director Spike Lee
's documentary When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts.
In 2007 the Times-Picayune reported on April 4 that Hedge-Morrell had been stopped twice in the previous 4 months by state police, including a February 26 incident in which she was charged with speeding on the shoulder of Interstate 10
with a blue light flashing. On the day of the newspaper report, Hedge-Morrell issued a public apology for the incident.
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 2, 2005
Councilmember, District D, 2006
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 22, 2006
Education
Hedge-Morrell holds a Bachelor of Administration in Elementary Education from the University of New OrleansUniversity of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
and a master of science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
from Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
.
Political successes
She has served as Councilmember representing New Orleans District D since 2005. District D includes some the neighborhoods that were the most seriously damaged by the levee failures of 2005 after Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. District D covers the Gentilly
Gentilly
Gentilly may refer to:France* Gentilly, Val-de-Marne, a commune of the Val-de-Marne départementCanada* Gentilly, Quebec, a suburb of the city of Bécancour** Gentilly Nuclear Generating StationUnited States...
Area and parts of New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward
Ninth Ward of New Orleans
The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is geographically the largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans....
.
Hedge-Morrell was re-elected, with a reduced majority, in 2006. A number of her colleagues faced disgruntlement related to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Mayor C. Ray Nagin won re-election only after facing a much tougher challenge than expected before the hurricane and half of the members who wished to stay were not back on the City Council.
City council dynamics
Although according to the Times-Picayune Nagin "has no automatic allies" on the City Council, Hedge-Morrell has sometimes defended his administration's policy when attacked by fellow councilwoman Stacy HeadStacy Head
Stacy Aline Singleton Head is a member of the New Orleans City Council.-Early Life and Career:Stacy Head was born in 1969 as the daughter of Katherine Hamberlin Singleton and Ernest Lynn Singleton. She grew up in Greensburg, Saint Helena Parish, Louisiana...
, as in a 30 July 2009 oral duel over garbage-collection fees, which Head had a long history of criticizing as being too high and too subsidized by the city's general fund.
Personal life
Since 1973 Hedge-Morrell has been married to Arthur Morrell, who has served as a Representative for District 97 at the Louisiana State LegislatureLouisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
since 1984, before being elected Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court in 2006. District 97 roughly covers the same area as District D. Hedge-Morrell and her spouse were among the participants in movie director Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's documentary When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts.
In 2007 the Times-Picayune reported on April 4 that Hedge-Morrell had been stopped twice in the previous 4 months by state police, including a February 26 incident in which she was charged with speeding on the shoulder of Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Louisiana
Interstate 10, a major transcontinental Interstate Highway in the Southern U.S., runs across the southern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It passes through Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge before dipping south of Lake Pontchartrain to serve the New Orleans area and then passing through...
with a blue light flashing. On the day of the newspaper report, Hedge-Morrell issued a public apology for the incident.
Election History
Councilmember, District D, 2005Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 2, 2005
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | Democratic | 4,959 (84%) | Elected |
| Eustis Guillemet | Republican | 912 (16%) | Defeated |
Councilmember, District D, 2006
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 22, 2006
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Cynthia Hedge-Morrell | Democratic | 10,889 (56%) | Elected |
| Louella Givens | Democratic | 4,194 (22%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 4,319 (22%) | Defeated |