Governor John Bel Edwards Endorses JP Morrell
Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his support for J.P. Morrell for New Orleans City Council At-Large, Division 2, saying:
“JP Morrell has dedicated his life to public service. His tireless effort to create equal opportunities for every man, woman, and child during his time in the legislature have prepared him to take on this new responsibility on the New Orleans City Council."
"JP and I worked together to turn a $2 billion budget deficit into a budget surplus, we fought to end discrimination in our state, to pass a constitutional amendment to require unanimous jury verdicts, and to ensure that New Orleans got its fair share of tourism dollars."
I am asking everyone to join me in supporting JP for City Council At-Large, Division 2. He's a proven leader that New Orleans needs.”
JP Morrell has been a relentless advocate for policies that place people first. He started serving our community as a public defender right out of law school and later was elected to the State Legislature in 2006 – where he helped pass a historic package of laws to increase protections for the survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and a constitutional amendment undoing a Jim Crow-era law in Louisiana. Morrell never backed down from impossible fights when he knew what was best for the people of our city.
Morrell and Gov. Edwards have worked together for years, starting when they were both state legislators. Later, as Chair of the Louisiana Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, Morrell took a leading role in helping Governor Edwards dig the state out of a $2 billion budget hole. After leaving the legislature, Gov. Edwards appointed Morrell to the Resilient Louisiana Commission to help lead efforts to combat Covid-19 and ensure that New Orleans remained a priority in all recovery processes.
JP Morrell said, "I'm incredibly proud to have Governor Edwards' endorsement. We've worked together to tackle longstanding systemic problems, to expand medicare, to fight for equal pay for equal work and raise the minimum wage, and to undue racist laws. As your next City Councilmember At-Large, we will continue this work to overcome New Orleans' greatest challenges, from crime to infrastructure and affordable housing to the economy."
Morrell will be on the ballot in the Nov. 13 election (early voting is Oct. 30 - Nov. 6) as the only official candidate of the Democratic Party, and he is also endorsed by New Orleans Coalition, Independent Women's Organization (IWO), AFL-CIO, Alliance for Good Government, Independent Democratic Electors Association (IDEA),UNITE HERE, Voters Organized to Educate (VOTE), United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO), New Orleans East Leadership (NOEL), the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Southeastern Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Building and Constructions Trades (NABTU), NOLA Rainbow Advocates, and over 200 women leaders and advocates, among others (below).