Sen. Jean-Paul J. Morrell (D)
District# 3,

• District # 3: House District 0
• Party: Democrat
• Caucus Membership: --
• Occupation: Attorney, Morrell & Morrell, LLC
• Education: B.S. Political Science, Spring Hill College; J.D., Tulane University Law School
• Spouse: Catherine
• Year Elected: 2008
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
• 2007 Election
  

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• Economic: This district sustained major wind and water damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and most of the major policy issues to come out of the area since then have been related. Most of the Lakefront and Gentilly neighborhoods in New Orleans are included in this district, including the upper Ninth Ward. Primarily a residential area, this district also has some small businesses and some industries along the Mississippi River, the Inner Harbor and the Industrial Canal. Two of the largest employers in the district are the University of New Orleans and Southern University’s New Orleans campus. The state run NOCCA is also located in this district.
  
  Social: District 3 has very diverse social and economic groups. Poor and working class residents reside in older neighborhoods near the Mississippi River and the Ninth Ward with bluer collar workers in Jefferson Parish. Middle-class African-American residents are located in small pockets throughout the district. Business and professional workers live in subdivisions along the lakefront.
  
  Political: With a large number of African-Americans in this district, registered Democrats outnumber other political parties by almost three to one. Even though the district has precincts in conservative Jefferson Parish, they are predominantly African-American precincts.

• Jean-Paul J. Morrell, known around the Capitol as “JP,” is a Democratic attorney from New Orleans. He’s also of political lineage – his father, Arthur, held the House District 97 seat for six terms. The younger Morrell held the same seat as well following a special election in 2006, but made the move quickly to the Upper Chamber in 2008 after being elected unopposed to a full House term in 2007. The father-son comparisons, however, aren’t mounting up as the younger Morrell continues to serve. While his father was reluctant to vote against labor, the younger Morrell has kept an open door to influential business groups like LABI.
  
  Answering a call for action from his constituents, Morrell has zeroed in on insurance issues. While in the House, he passed a bill removing the non-competitive penalty from the Citizen’s Property Insurance policies, resulting in a 10 percent discount to Citizen’s policyholders. Leadership on similar issues is expected to continue as Morrell has landed a seat on the Senate Insurance Committee. Morrell has also shown an interest in all sides of the criminal justice system, which isn’t surprising given his background. Not only was Morrell formerly a public defender, but two of his brothers are presently serving with the New Orleans Police Department.
  
  Morrell has developed a reputation for his hands-on approach with his district. He is already clearly comfortable debating from the Senate floor and speaks passionately on issues that concern his area. He has pushed resolutions that would have forced FEMA’s hand on homeowner negotiations and is constantly looking for ways to address his constituency’s challenges with rebuilding. Morrell is young and bright with a clear vision for his district and the state. He has the mark of a new breed of leadership for the Senate Democrats.