James Carter was elected in 2006 to represent District C on the New Orleans City Council

City council

A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...

. A native of New Orleans and graduate of both McDonogh 35 High School

John McDonogh

John McDonogh was a United States entrepreneur and philanthropist, described as miserly, controversial, and eccentric. He is most famous for endowing public education in two major American cities—New Orleans and Baltimore.-Life and career:McDonogh was born in Baltimore and entered the...

 and New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), Carter received both his B.A.

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 (1991) and juris doctor

Juris Doctor

Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 (1997) degrees from Howard University

Howard University

Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...

 in the District of Columbia. He entered the practice of law

Lawyer

A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...

 in New Orleans during 1997. He has served as president of the New Orleans chapter of the Howard University Alumni Association.

In 2008 Carter sought to oust incumbent

Incumbent

The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...

 U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson

William J. Jefferson

William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...

 in the Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 primary election

Primary election

A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....

 for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district

Louisiana's 2nd congressional district

Louisiana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district contains nearly all of the city of New Orleans , and some of its suburbs, including the West Bank portion of Jefferson Parish and South South Kenner.The district is currently represented...

 seat but failed to make the runoff. His campaign manager was Dana Peterson, husband of state representative Karen Carter Peterson

Karen Carter Peterson

Karen Carter Peterson is a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate, representing the 5th District since 2010. She previously served as the representative from District 93 , in the Louisiana House of Representatives and as Speaker Pro Tempore...

 (no relation to James Carter), who had tried to oust Jefferson in the 2006 elections.

Carter is known to enjoy political repartee, as in being hosted by Jeff Crouere

Jeff Crouere

Jeff Crouere is a Conservative political commentator in the Greater New Orleans area.He has held several positions within the Louisiana Republican Party, formerly including executive director...

 on his Politics with a Punch program.

James Carter and his wife Rene Carter live in Algiers Point

Algiers Point

Algiers Point is a location on the Lower Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. In river pilotage, Algiers Point is simply one of the many points of land around which the river flows—albeit a significant one...

 with their one child. She is principal of Martin Behrman

Martin Behrman

Martin Behrman , an American Democratic politician, was the longest-serving mayor in New Orleans history.-Biography:...

 Elementary School. He is a member of Prince Hall Masons

Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...

. The Carters attend Shiloh Baptist Church, where her late father Bob Lewis had been minister.