Meet Alex

After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 2008, Alex made the decision to return home to help with post-Katrina rebuilding efforts. In her first job, she worked with local workforce development programs helping youth develop marketable job skills in the construction industry. This experience gave Alex her first interactions with city agencies and their work with schools, community organizations, and private businesses. She saw firsthand the importance of engaging youth programs, vocational training, and well-paying job opportunities for young people. As a Government Relations Representative for the Home Builders Association, Alex served as a stakeholder in developing the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. She spent two years immersed in the work of policymaking at both the state and local levels Through this work, she developed a keen awareness of the ripple effects that good (and bad) lawmaking can have on individuals and communities.

As a social studies teacher, Alex has dedicated her 15-year career in education to teaching kids about our civic systems and the structures and functions of government. She estimates that about 1500 of her former students were able to vote in the last election, and that is her most important impact. Alex believes that running for office is a civic virtue, and the intention of a republic is to engage citizens in service this way. New Orleans needs leadership that is representative of ALL its citizens, not just those consistently involved in politics. She is eager to apply her knowledge and skills to create meaningful change for District A and all of NOLA.

As a long-time New Orleans homeowner and resident, Alex shares the growing frustrations of many citizens that while our cost of living rises, city services continue to slip. Deferred maintenance of infrastructure and poor budget management have led us to the current patchwork of street construction projects and lack of accountability for contractors. Communication failures between essential agencies like the Sewerage and Water Board and the Department of Public Works have led to major inefficiencies in project oversight and management. Frequent street flooding and boil water advisories make daily life for citizens hazardous, leading to lost income for businesses including hotels and restaurants, creating logistical nightmares for schools and hospitals, and disrupting the lives of tax-paying citizens. Emergency response times are far slower than both national averages and industry standards. In light of these challenges, it is unsurprising that New Orleans struggles to attract new businesses and industries.

Over the past decade, Alex has watched many friends and family members make the difficult decision to leave New Orleans because of these failures and a persistent lack of opportunities, coupled with ever-increasing housing costs. Rent, taxes, insurance, and home prices have grown exponentially, with no corresponding increase in amenities or improvement in services. It is time for the New Orleans City Council to come up with productive and forward-thinking solutions to these issues if we hope to maintain a city that retains residents and businesses. We cannot afford another decade of falling behind.