Shelley Stephenson Midura
Encyclopedia
Shelley Stephenson Midura (born January 2, 1966) is a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana
and a former member of the New Orleans City Council
. A Democrat
, she represented District A from 2006 to her retirment in 2010. She first won election when she defeated Republican incumbent Jay Batt
. She announced in 2009 she would not seek reelection.
section of the city, specifically Lakewood South. She was graduated from Isidore Newman School
in 1984 and spent the next four years at Georgetown University
. While enrolled in Georgetown, she spent her junior year abroad—six months in Egypt
and six months in Israel
. Upon graduation from Georgetown, she joined the United States Foreign Service
. She married Jonathan Midura, and they have three children. Upon her return to New Orleans, she started the International School of New Orleans. Her father, William Monroe Stephenson Jr., is a prominent local attorney. Midura plays piano at a classical level and runs for exercise, participating in the 2004 New Orleans Mardi Gras
Marathon.
dissatisfaction with incumbent Republican
councilman Jay Batt
, who had authorized large commercial developments in neighborhoods over the objections of neighborhood associations. Midura's election rendered New Orleans' City Council all Democrats for the first time since 1980, the previous year in which a Democrat had represented District A. In the first round of 2008 Democratic Party primary election
voting, she supported fellow Council member James Carter
for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district
over incumbent Democrat William J. Jefferson
in an election cycle ultimately won by Republican
Joseph Cao
.
On July 15, 2009, Midura announced she will not to seek reelection to the city council in 2010. Midura endorsed neighborhood activist and Democrat Susan Guidry to succeed her. In addition to Guidry, others who ran to succeed Midura were Republicans
Virginia Blanque and former councilman Jay Batt
. Guidry defeated both of them with over 62% of the vote.
Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 22, 2006
Second Ballot, May 20, 2006
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and a former member of 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 Democrat
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...
, she represented District A from 2006 to her retirment in 2010. She first won election when she defeated Republican incumbent Jay Batt
Jay Batt
John "Jay" Batt, Jr. is a local politician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the older brother of actor Bryan Batt.-Political career:A Republican, Batt served as the only member of his party on the New Orleans City Council, from 2002 to 2006, having represented District A.District A runs from the...
. She announced in 2009 she would not seek reelection.
Early life
Midura is a New Orleans native who grew up in the LakeviewLakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Lakeview District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Robert E. Lee Boulevard to the north, Orleans Avenue to the east, Florida Boulevard, Canal Boulevard and I-610 to the south and...
section of the city, specifically Lakewood South. She was graduated from Isidore Newman School
Isidore Newman School
Isidore Newman School is a private, nondenominational, co-educational college preparatory school located on an campus in the Uptown section of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
in 1984 and spent the next four years at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. While enrolled in Georgetown, she spent her junior year abroad—six months in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and six months in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Upon graduation from Georgetown, she joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
. She married Jonathan Midura, and they have three children. Upon her return to New Orleans, she started the International School of New Orleans. Her father, William Monroe Stephenson Jr., is a prominent local attorney. Midura plays piano at a classical level and runs for exercise, participating in the 2004 New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
Marathon.
City Council
Midura was elected in 2006 following widespread post-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...
dissatisfaction with incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
councilman Jay Batt
Jay Batt
John "Jay" Batt, Jr. is a local politician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the older brother of actor Bryan Batt.-Political career:A Republican, Batt served as the only member of his party on the New Orleans City Council, from 2002 to 2006, having represented District A.District A runs from the...
, who had authorized large commercial developments in neighborhoods over the objections of neighborhood associations. Midura's election rendered New Orleans' City Council all Democrats for the first time since 1980, the previous year in which a Democrat had represented District A. In the first round of 2008 Democratic Party 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....
voting, she supported fellow Council member James Carter
James Carter (politician)
James Carter was elected in 2006 to represent District C on the New Orleans City Council. A native of New Orleans and graduate of both McDonogh 35 High School and New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts , Carter received both his B.A. and juris doctor degrees from Howard University in the...
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...
over incumbent Democrat 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 an election cycle ultimately won by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Joseph Cao
Joseph Cao
Anh "Joseph" Quang Cao is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. In April 2011, he announced he will be a candidate for Attorney General of Louisiana in 2011, however in September 2011 he pulled out of the race.He was the first...
.
On July 15, 2009, Midura announced she will not to seek reelection to the city council in 2010. Midura endorsed neighborhood activist and Democrat Susan Guidry to succeed her. In addition to Guidry, others who ran to succeed Midura were Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Virginia Blanque and former councilman Jay Batt
Jay Batt
John "Jay" Batt, Jr. is a local politician from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the older brother of actor Bryan Batt.-Political career:A Republican, Batt served as the only member of his party on the New Orleans City Council, from 2002 to 2006, having represented District A.District A runs from the...
. Guidry defeated both of them with over 62% of the vote.
Electoral history
Councilmember, District A, 2006Threshold > 50%
First Ballot, April 22, 2006
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Jay Batt | Republican | 10,805 (40%) | Runoff |
| Shelley Stephenson Midura | Democratic | 7,703 (28%) | Runoff |
| Sal Palmisano | Republican | 3,272 (12%) | Defeated |
| Others | n.a. | 5,374 (20%) | Defeated |
Second Ballot, May 20, 2006
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Shelley Stephenson Midura | Democratic | 14,552 (52%) | Elected |
| Jay Batt | Republican | 13,670 (48%) | Defeated |