Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin

Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin
Name	Ray Nagin
Office	Mayor of New Orleans
Term start	May 6, 2002
Term end	May 3, 2010
Predecessor	Marc Morial
Successor	Mitch Landrieu
Birth date	May 11, 1956
Birth place	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of New Orleans; Syracuse University (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications)
Occupation	Business executive; politician

Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin

Ray Nagin is an American businessman and politician who served two terms as Mayor of New Orleans from 2002 to 2010. His tenure spanned significant events including the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster and the subsequent federal, state, and municipal recovery efforts involving agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Congress. Nagin's administration pursued urban redevelopment initiatives while later becoming the subject of a high-profile federal corruption investigation by the United States Department of Justice and prosecution by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Early life and education

Born in the Seventh Ward, New Orleans in 1956, Nagin grew up in a Creole neighborhood influenced by cultural institutions like St. Augustine Church and musical traditions from Louis Armstrong's legacy in Treme, New Orleans. He attended De La Salle High School (New Orleans) before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans and completing executive education at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. His formative years intersected with civic organizations including the Urban League and local chapters of NAACP affiliates.

Business career and community involvement

Before elective office, Nagin worked for the BellSouth corporation and rose to senior management roles in telecommunications, engaging with regional entities such as the Greater New Orleans, Inc. and the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. He served on boards for institutions like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and partnered with financial institutions including Whitney Bank and Hibernia National Bank in redevelopment discussions. Community outreach connected him to non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity and cultural organizations like the Preservation Hall and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Political career and mayoral elections

Nagin entered the 2002 mayoral race in a crowded field including Marc Morial and Richard Pennington, campaigning on economic revitalization, crime reduction, and infrastructure investment tied to entities like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Louisiana Recovery Authority. He won the 2002 election and was re-elected in 2006, defeating challengers such as John Georges and leveraging endorsements from figures in the Democratic Party and alliances with community leaders from neighborhoods like Bywater and Uptown New Orleans. His administration negotiated with state officials including Governor Kathleen Blanco and later Governor Bobby Jindal on recovery funding and policy.

Hurricane Katrina and administration response

During Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Nagin authorized evacuation orders and engaged federal partners including FEMA, the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense for rescue and relief. The catastrophic failure of the New Orleans levee system and flooding of wards such as Lower Ninth Ward led to national scrutiny involving media outlets like The New York Times and CNN. Post-storm coordination involved the Army Corps of Engineers, the Small Business Administration, and congressional delegations including U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and U.S. Representative Bill Jefferson in debates over rebuilding strategy, housing policy, and infrastructure grants.

Policies and initiatives as mayor

Nagin promoted economic programs such as the Bring New Orleans Back Commission recommendations, public-private partnerships with firms like Hurricane Katrina rebuilding contractors and initiatives to expand the New Orleans Airport and Port of New Orleans commerce. He supported cultural recovery for institutions including the New Orleans Police Department reform efforts, investment in charter schools and collaborations with universities such as Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans for neighborhood revitalization. His administration pursued tax incentives, redevelopment zones in areas like the French Quarter and Central Business District (New Orleans), and tourism promotion linked to events like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Legal issues, indictment, and conviction

In 2013, Nagin was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges including bribery, fraud, and money laundering in a corruption case involving contractors and businessmen connected to post-Katrina contracts. The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecution by the United States Attorney and resulted in trial and conviction in 2014 on multiple counts under statutes enforced by the United States Department of Justice. Sentencing reflected precedents from corruption cases such as those involving other municipal officials prosecuted in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Appeals considered matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and issues related to federal sentencing guidelines.

Personal life and legacy

Nagin is married to Elizabeth Nagin and has daughters; he is a practicing member of community churches tied to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and local congregations in New Orleans. His legacy remains contested: praised for public advocacy for displaced residents and criticized for administrative shortcomings and ethical failures. Academic analyses from institutions like the Johns Hopkins University and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution have examined his mayoralty in studies of urban disaster politics, resilience, and municipal corruption. The long-term recovery of neighborhoods including the Lower Ninth Ward, Gentilly, and New Orleans East continues to reflect the complex interplay of federal programs, state policy, philanthropy from entities like the Katrina relief foundations, and activism by grassroots groups such as Common Ground Relief.

Category:Mayors of New Orleans