In the News

Morrell flexes endorsement muscle in Jefferson Parish
Saturday, November 8, 2008, Nola.com
State Rep. J.P. Morrell of Gentilly got a major boost Friday in his bid to represent a state Senate district that includes parts of both Orleans and Jefferson parishes when he rolled out endorsements from a who's who of Jefferson's political establishment. Morrell, a Democrat, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Jefferson President Aaron Broussard, a Democrat, and Sheriff Newell Normand and Councilman Tom Capella, both Republicans... View article

Senate vacancy attracts pair; Barney, Morrell seek to replace Shepherd
Saturday, October 25, 2008, Nola.com
The Dec. 6 contest to fill the vacant 3rd District state Senate seat representing parts of Orleans and Jefferson parishes will feature two candidates with familiar names. Financial consultant Shawn Barney signed up to run Friday as a three-day qualifying period ended for the special election. Barney, the son of Clarence Barney, a former president of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, joins state Rep. J.P. Morrell on the rare December ballot. Morrell is the son of City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell and Criminal Court Clerk Arthur Morrell... View article

N.O. set to retake House seat
Saturday, October 18, 2008, Nola.com
The New Orleans political establishment was caught off guard in 2005 when state Sen. Lambert Boissiere Jr. stepped down to take a new job as 1st City Court constable. Following Boissiere's unexpected exit, a weak field of candidates from the city opened the door for then-state Rep. Derrick Shepherd of Marrero to win the special election, handing the 3rd District seat to a Jefferson Parish resident for the first time. Now that Shepherd has resigned and pleaded guilty to federal money-laundering charges, political insiders are speculating that New Orleans is poised to take back the seat. State Rep. J.P. Morrell, a Gentilly resident, announced this week that he intends to run in the Dec. 6 primary to replace Shepherd... View article

Rating commission lacks quorum, postpones vote on Citizens rate decrease
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Nola.com
The Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission was unable to approve the Citizens rate decreases this morning because the group did not have a quorum. But rating commission chairman Chad Brown vowed to call a special meeting of the group "at the earliest possible date" to formally approve decreases of up 10 ten percent on Citizens bills in 11 hurricane-affected parishes. "This filing is needed to comply with Rep. Morrell's bill from the past legislative session... View article

Citizens policyholders could see their premiums fall as much as 10 percent
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Nola.com
Starting Wednesday, 55,000 policyholders of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will see decreases of as much as 10 percent on their bills when their policies renew -- at least for now... View article

State Legislators call for Jordan's Resignation
July 18, 2007, Nola.com
State Reps. Cedric Richmond and J.P. Morrell, both of New Orleans, will call on District Attorney Eddie Jordan to resign from office at a 4:30 p.m. press conference on the steps of City Hall, political consultant Allan Katz said Wednesday afternoon... View article

Countdown
to the Election:
December 6, 2008