Rep. Richmond, Cedric (D)
District# 101, New Orleans

• District # 101: House District 1
• Party: Democrat
• Caucus Membership:Democratic Caucus
  Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
  Orleans Delegation
• Occupation: Attorney
• Education: Benjamin Franklin High School; Morehouse College; J.D., Tulane Law School
• Spouse: Single
• Year Elected: 1999
• Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2012
• 2007 Election
  After being ejected from the 2005 New Orleans City Council race due to residency requirements, Richmond came back to win a landslide victory against Roland Barthe in the race for his House seat in the 2007 election. First elected in 1999, this will be Richmond’s third term in the House.
  
  

• Louisiana Map
• District Map
• Metro Map
• Economic: House District 101 is made up of eastern Orleans Parish, including parts of the 9th Ward, and backs up onto Lake Pontchartrain. District 101 is home to the aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of rocket boosters for the space shuttle program. District 101’s waterfront location provides maritime jobs, which are a big economic boon for residents. The district also includes shipbuilder Textron. The Port of Orleans is also sending many jobs to the nearby Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, an easy commute for residents. Many other residents travel the short distance into the central business district fore service and support jobs.
• Impact of Hurricane Katrina: The district was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, with some areas receiving up to 12 feet of water. The area received severe damage to both its business and residential segments. In addition, District 101 seems to have lost a significant portion of the population. The area is recovering; however, maintaining most of its major manufacturing industry.
• Social: District 101 is a true mix of the socioeconomic spectrum, with some residents having extremely low incomes, while the majority of the population is middle class with a few very wealthy residents. The majority of the district’s residents are African-American.
• Political: Many political organizations find a strong following here in District 101, but virtually all are Democratic. Voters here tend to be more liberal and open to things such as gambling and increasing incentives to keep the Saints football team in town.

• Cedric Richmond has established himself as a player and leader among black lawmakers. A former chairman of Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, Richmond led the walk-out of black legislators after the initial rejection of legislation that would implement satellite voting stations for voters displaced by Hurricane Katrina. He also helped facilitate the rebuilding of city infrastructure including the police department, fire stations, and school buildings and introduced legislation to exempt recovery grants from income taxes.
• Richmond has worked across the aisle to promote pay raises for teachers, police officers and government workers and sponsored and passed legislation to provide tax credits to spur economic development in accordance with the federal new market tax credit. He also sponsored bills to place a moratorium on the death penalty and prohibit renting rooms by the hour.
• As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Richmond will have a hand in addressing in the state’s fledgling revenue stream, especially in the 2011 regular session when lawmakers can file tax bills. He’s also interested in criminal justice legislation and is a floor leader on issues involving New Orleans and the Legislative Black Caucus.
• Richmond has been active in New Orleans politics for many years, working with veteran lawmakers such as U.S. Rep. Bill Jefferson and State Sen. Lambert Bossiere. Now that term limits have been implemented, Richmond is sure to build even greater influence as he is one of the most senior members of the House and serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.