Mitch Landrieu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mitch Landrieu
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Landrieu in 2023
|
|
| Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Investment & Jobs | |
| In office November 15, 2021 – January 8, 2024 |
|
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| White House Coordinator for the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act Implementation Office | |
| In office November 15, 2021 – January 8, 2024 |
|
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Natalie Quillian |
| 61st Mayor of New Orleans | |
| In office May 3, 2010 – May 7, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Ray Nagin |
| Succeeded by | LaToya Cantrell |
| 75th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 2017–2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Mick Cornett |
| Succeeded by | Stephen K. Benjamin |
| 51st Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office January 11, 2004 – May 3, 2010 |
|
| Governor | Kathleen Blanco Bobby Jindal |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Blanco |
| Succeeded by | Scott Angelle |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1988–2004 |
|
| Preceded by | Mary Landrieu |
| Succeeded by | Timothy Burns |
| Constituency |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mitchell Joseph Landrieu
August 16, 1960 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cheryl Quirk |
| Relations | Mary Landrieu (sister) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent | Moon Landrieu (father) |
| Education | Catholic University of America (BA) Loyola University New Orleans (JD) |
Mitchell Joseph Landrieu (born August 16, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician. He was the 61st mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. Before that, he served as the 51st lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Landrieu comes from a family of politicians. His father, Moon Landrieu, was also a mayor of New Orleans and a Cabinet secretary. His sister, Mary Landrieu, was a U.S. senator. In 2007, he won a second term as lieutenant governor. On February 6, 2010, Landrieu was elected Mayor of New Orleans. He won with 66 percent of the city's votes. He was reelected mayor on February 1, 2014. He was the first mayor to win both elections without a second round of voting. He also won with majorities from both white and black voters.
On November 14, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that Landrieu would be a Senior Advisor. His job was to help carry out the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He started this role on November 15, 2021. He left his role as the infrastructure coordinator on January 8, 2024. He then became a co-chair for Biden's 2024 reelection campaign. After Biden withdrew, Landrieu became a co-chair for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign. He also helped lead the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Landrieu was born and grew up in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. He is the fifth of nine children of Maurice "Moon" Landrieu and Verna (Satterlee). His family history includes Italian, French, German, British, and African-American heritage.
He attended Jesuit High School and graduated in 1978. He then went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. There, he earned a degree in political science and theatre in 1982. In 1985, he earned a law degree from Loyola University Law School in New Orleans.
Before working in public service, Landrieu was a lawyer for 16 years. He focused on helping people solve problems without going to court. He helped settle over 700 cases. He also taught about solving problems at Loyola University Law School.
Political Career
Serving in the Legislature
Landrieu was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1987. He served there for sixteen years. His sister and father had held the same seat before him.
As a leader, Landrieu worked with lawmakers from different parties. He focused on making the government more efficient and responsible. He helped limit Louisiana's debt. He also worked with Governor Mike Foster to put money from a tobacco settlement into a trust. This allowed the state to use only the interest earned each year. He supported big projects in New Orleans. These included the Morial Convention Center and National World War II Museum. These projects helped the city's economy grow.
Landrieu also worked to improve Louisiana's system for young offenders. He wanted to focus on helping them get better, not just punishing them. He also fought against divisive laws proposed by a controversial politician, David Duke.
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
Landrieu became lieutenant governor of Louisiana in 2003. He won the election with 53 percent of the vote.
When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit New Orleans in 2005, Landrieu helped with the emergency response. After the storms, he led efforts to rebuild the state's tourism industry. He believed in bringing people together to solve problems. He also created the "Cultural Economy" initiative. This program aimed to create jobs in Louisiana's culture, music, food, film, and art industries.
Running for Mayor of New Orleans
Landrieu ran for mayor of New Orleans in 1994 but did not win. In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, he ran again. Many people wanted new leadership after the storm. He made it to a runoff election but lost to the current mayor, Ray Nagin.
In 2010, Landrieu ran for mayor of New Orleans again. This time, he won with about 67% of the vote. He had strong support from people of all backgrounds. He was the first white person to be mayor of New Orleans since his father left office in 1978.
Mayor of New Orleans: Making a Difference
Landrieu became mayor on May 3, 2010. When he took office, New Orleans was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The city was almost bankrupt, and the police department was under federal investigation.
He worked to speed up recovery projects. He secured billions of dollars in federal funding for schools, hospitals, and roads. He brought good financial management to City Hall. This led to the city's highest-ever credit rating. He also focused on public safety. He worked to improve the police department and reduce the murder rate.
Landrieu balanced the city's budget for eight years. He made government information available to the public. He also launched "NOLA 311" for citizens to report problems. He created a "One Stop Shop" for permits to make it easier to do business in the city. He also launched Resilient New Orleans to help the city prepare for future challenges.
Under his leadership, New Orleans' economy grew. More than 20,000 new jobs were created since 2010. Tourism spending went past pre-Katrina levels. The city became a hub for new businesses. Property values increased by 50 percent. The city also began building a new, nearly $1 billion terminal at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Landrieu launched "NOLA for Life" in 2012 to reduce murders. This plan included many programs, like working with gangs and mentoring youth. The city's murder rate decreased after this program started. He also worked to reform the New Orleans Police Department. This included new rules for how police use force. These efforts helped reduce the number of people in jail.
In 2015, Landrieu called for the removal of four monuments in New Orleans. These monuments honored Confederate leaders and a group called the White League. The New Orleans City Council approved their removal. The statues were taken down in 2017. Landrieu gave a speech explaining his decision, which was widely praised.
Other Work and Recognition
Landrieu appeared in filmmaker Spike Lee's documentaries When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts and If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise.
He has also supported humanitarian causes. In 2009, he supported The Jazz Foundation of America. This group helps jazz musicians, especially those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 2015, Governing magazine named Landrieu Public Official of the Year. From 2017 to 2018, he was president of the United States Conference of Mayors. This group represents cities with large populations. He worked with mayors from both parties to focus on issues like improving infrastructure and healthcare.
In 2018, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation gave Landrieu the Profile in Courage Award. This was for his leadership in removing the Confederate monuments in New Orleans. He also wrote a book called In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History.
Politico magazine praised Landrieu in 2016. They said he led one of the most successful mayoral terms in America.
White House Senior Advisor
As a Senior Advisor to the President, Landrieu helped coordinate important national projects. In May 2023, he spoke about the national debt limit and the U.S. economy. He also discussed the positive jobs report from April 2023.
Personal Life
Mitch Landrieu is married to Cheryl P. Landrieu, who is also a lawyer. They have five children.
Images for kids
-
Landrieu in 2007
