Ray Nagin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Nagin
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Nagin in June 2006
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| 60th Mayor of New Orleans | |
| In office May 6, 2002 – May 3, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Marc Morial |
| Succeeded by | Mitch Landrieu |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Clarence Ray Nagin Jr.
June 11, 1956 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Seletha Smith
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Tuskegee University (BS) Tulane University (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
Clarence Ray Nagin Jr. (born June 11, 1956) is an American former politician. He served as the 60th Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2002 to 2010. As a member of the Democratic Party, Nagin became widely known in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina hit the city.
Nagin was first elected mayor in March 2002. He won re-election in 2006, even though many New Orleans citizens were still displaced after Hurricane Katrina. Due to rules about how long a mayor can serve, he left office on May 3, 2010.
After his time as mayor, Nagin started a company called CRN Initiatives LLC. This company focused on preparing for emergencies, developing green energy products, publishing, and public speaking. He also wrote a book called Katrina Secrets: Storms after the Storms.
In 2014, Nagin was found guilty of taking money improperly from city contractors. These actions happened both before and after Hurricane Katrina. He was sentenced to prison for these actions.
Contents
Early Life and Career Journey
Ray Nagin was born on June 11, 1956, in New Orleans at Charity Hospital. His family had a simple life. His father worked two jobs to support the family. He was a janitor at New Orleans City Hall at night and a fabric cutter during the day. Later, his father became a mechanic at a dairy. Nagin's mother managed a restaurant inside a Kmart store.
His family lived in different parts of New Orleans, including the 7th Ward and Algiers. Nagin went to St. Augustine High School and O. Perry Walker High School. He played both basketball and baseball there. He then attended Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, on a baseball scholarship. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in Accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant.
After college, Nagin worked for General Motors in Detroit, Michigan. He later moved to Los Angeles, California, and then to Dallas, Texas, in 1981. In Dallas, he worked as an Internal Audit Manager.
In 1982, Nagin married Seletha Smith, who was also from New Orleans. They have three children together. In 1985, Nagin returned to New Orleans. He became the controller for Cox New Orleans, the city's cable television company. This company had many customer complaints and low profits. Nagin was quickly promoted to general manager. By 1989, he was in charge of all Cox properties in south Louisiana.
In 1993, Nagin enrolled in an advanced business program at Tulane University. He also worked with local, state, and federal governments. This was important because the businesses he managed needed government approvals. He also hosted a TV show where customers could call in, which made him well-known.
In 1995, Nagin received an award for his leadership and as a role model. He also joined the boards of groups like the United Way. He helped start and became president of the New Orleans chapter of 100 Black Men, a group for black businessmen.
Nagin was also part of a group that brought the New Orleans Brass hockey team to the city. He became the team's president. The team was popular and played in the 18,000-seat New Orleans Arena. That year, a local newspaper named Nagin "New Orleanian of the Year."
Political Party Affiliation
Before running for mayor, Ray Nagin was a registered Democrat. Some news reports incorrectly stated he was a Republican, but Nagin said he had always been a Democrat. He did, however, sometimes donate money to politicians from both major parties.
2002 Mayoral Election
Ray Nagin decided to run for mayor on the very last day to sign up for the race. Before the main election in February 2002, local newspapers supported Nagin.
In the first round of the mayoral election, Nagin won with 29 percent of the votes. Other candidates included Police Chief Richard Pennington and State Senator Paulette Irons. In the final election on March 2, 2002, Nagin won against Richard Pennington with 59 percent of the votes. He became the 60th mayor of New Orleans.
First Term as Mayor
During Nagin's first term, New Orleans saw many good changes. In 2004, the city gained 4,500 jobs. Many people in New Orleans moved out of poverty, while the national average increased. The income per person in New Orleans was growing faster than in most other cities.
New Orleans was named one of the top "comeback kids" in the South for business. The city also had record numbers of tourists in 2004, with 10.1 million visitors. A survey named New Orleans the number one family travel spot. Since 2002, over $400 million worth of movies were filmed in the area. This included the Oscar-winning movie Ray and All the King's Men. New Orleans earned the nickname "Hollywood South."
In November 2004, Nagin's administration approved a large bond issue of $260 million for city projects. New Orleans also moved up to 38th place on a list of "Most Wired Cities" for technology. The city's website became the 4th best in the nation.
In September 2004, when Hurricane Ivan threatened the Gulf of Mexico, Nagin told people in New Orleans to get ready. He advised those staying to have food, water, and even "an axe in the attic." This was a reminder of people trapped by floodwaters during Hurricane Betsy in 1965. Nagin asked for a voluntary evacuation, and about 600,000 people left the city.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina entered the Gulf of Mexico. On Friday, August 26, Mayor Nagin told New Orleanians to watch the storm closely and prepare to leave. He encouraged people to evacuate, promising help for those who stayed. By Saturday morning, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for low-lying areas around New Orleans. Nagin, however, did not immediately order a full mandatory evacuation for the entire city.
President George W. Bush declared a federal emergency for Louisiana. New Orleans and nearby areas were given voluntary evacuation orders about 50 hours before Katrina hit. This plan helped manage traffic by reversing highway lanes to allow more cars to leave. The mayor was careful about ordering a mandatory evacuation because of concerns about closing businesses.
After a call from the head of the National Hurricane Center, Nagin learned Katrina was heading directly for New Orleans. He then ordered the first mandatory evacuation in the city's nearly 300-year history. On Sunday, August 28, the order was signed and announced. The Superdome was opened as a last-resort shelter. Police used loudspeakers to tell remaining citizens to go to pickup points for free bus rides. By Sunday evening, 80% of people had left the city.
After the hurricane, the levees built by the federal government broke. About 80% of the city flooded, with some areas under 20 feet of water. Food and water became very hard to find. Nagin spoke out on the radio, criticizing the slow response from federal and state governments. His strong words became widely known.
In October 2005, at a meeting, Nagin made a comment about "Mexican workers" helping with rebuilding. Some Hispanic groups criticized this. However, Nagin also said this was a huge chance for the city to grow. He urged New Orleanians to get used to working with people who looked different, as everyone's help was needed. Later, he praised the great work Hispanic workers did, saying the city could not have recovered without them.
"Chocolate City" Speech
After Katrina, some people suggested not rebuilding certain neighborhoods. This raised concerns that the city's population might change, especially its racial makeup. Many initial plans focused on rebuilding areas that would bring the most money. These areas were often higher up and where wealthier, mostly white, citizens lived. Most black residents lived in lower areas, which were seen as less profitable to rebuild.
Nagin disagreed with these ideas. To assure residents, he used the phrase "Chocolate City." This meant that New Orleans would remain a city with a majority black population. He first used this phrase during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech on January 16, 2006. He repeated it several times. This phrase was then used in jokes and cartoons.
Nagin also said that New Orleans "will be a majority African-American city because this was what God wants it to be." Some people found this comment about God's will to be concerning. He also linked hurricanes to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, suggesting God's disapproval.
In an interview, Nagin explained that "chocolate city" was a term from the 1970s. It referred to cities like Washington, D.C., where African Americans were gaining political power. The idea came from a song called "Chocolate City" by the funk group Parliament.
2006 Mayoral Election
When the 2006 election happened, at least two-thirds of New Orleans' residents were still living away from their homes. Some candidates ran because they felt the city's population had changed a lot. There were attempts to delay the election date, but they were not successful.
In the April 22 election, Nagin was the leading candidate with 38% of the votes. Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu came in second with 29%. Nagin and Landrieu then faced each other in a final election on May 20, 2006. Nagin won against Landrieu with 52% of the votes.
Second Term as Mayor
Nagin's second term started on June 1, 2006. He faced a lot of criticism from local news during this time. For example, his "100-day plan" to speed up rebuilding was criticized for being late and lacking details. His team said it was a short-term plan to improve daily life, not a strict time limit. Delays in getting money from the government for recovery also caused many problems.
Nagin was also part of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. This group was formed in 2006 by the mayors of New York City and Boston.
In 2006, Nagin was criticized for spending time in Washington, D.C., and giving speeches around the country. His administration said this was necessary to correct wrong ideas about New Orleans and get support for recovery.
In 2007, there was a big increase in violent crime in the city. This led to more criticism of Nagin. He asked for and received help from the Louisiana National Guard and the U.S. Justice Department. However, the local newspaper continued to criticize him. He caused more complaints when he said news of killings, while sad, helped keep "the New Orleans brand out there" to focus on the city's needs.
Nagin hired Dr. Ed Blakely in 2007 to lead the Office of Recovery Management. Several foundations provided money to hire more staff. In late 2007 and 2008, Nagin guided the city through a big planning process. This plan showed that $14 billion was needed for recovery. However, the state only gave 2% of the plan's funds, and it took almost three years to receive any federal recovery money.
By years four and five after Katrina, New Orleans made great progress in rebuilding. About 85% of all city recovery projects were finished, being built, or in final design. By the end of 2009, over $20 billion in public and private construction projects were underway.
Business Week magazine said New Orleans was one of the best cities in America during the economic recession. Money Magazine ranked the city as the sixth-fastest-growing real estate market. Outside Magazine said New Orleans was the 20th best town to live in. In April 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that New Orleans had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.
Before leaving office in 2010, Nagin was chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He led the United States group to a conference in Martinique about helping Haiti after its earthquake. A recovery plan was made and presented to other nations, leading to billions in pledges for Haiti.
Legal Challenges and Consequences
In April 2009, a newspaper reported that Ray Nagin had a conflict of interest regarding a trip he took to Hawaii in 2004. It was claimed that a city contractor paid for part of Nagin's plane ticket. The newspaper also reported that Nagin had taken other trips paid for by a company owned by a city vendor.
In April 2009, Nagin had to give a statement as part of a lawsuit about the city's crime camera program. The newspaper found that the vendor who supposedly paid for the Hawaii trip had given a lot of money to Nagin's 2006 re-election campaign.
Later, a city technology officer, Greg Meffert, was accused of taking illegal payments. He eventually admitted to some charges related to improper financial dealings.
In April 2010, it was found that Nagin had deleted many official city emails. After an investigation, 5,400 emails were recovered. Many of these emails were later used as evidence in his trial.
In June 2012, a businessman named Frank Fradella admitted to trying to bribe a public official. Fradella claimed he paid money and gave free materials to Nagin's sons' business. In return, he expected his companies to get city contracts.
On January 18, 2013, Nagin was formally accused of several charges related to improper financial dealings. These charges included taking money from city contractors. On February 20, 2013, Nagin said he was not guilty of the charges. While New Orleans has a history of political issues, Nagin was the first mayor to face such charges while in office.
On February 12, 2014, a jury found Nagin guilty of most of the charges. The charges stated that he had taken over $500,000 in payments from businessmen. In exchange, these businessmen received city contracts worth millions of dollars.
Time in Prison
On July 9, 2014, Nagin was sentenced to prison. He was also ordered to pay back money. He began his prison sentence on September 8, 2014. In April 2020, due to health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities allowed Nagin to complete his sentence under house arrest.
See also
- Timeline of New Orleans
