Clarkson addresses the public during a Council meeting.
No one brings greater passion and perseverance to New Orleans politics than Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, who has served the residents of New Orleans for nearly 20 years. Jackie is a proven leader. Her extensive record of taking a strong stance on tough issues, tackling big projects, and bringing about real change is singular among elected leaders.
EARLY CAREER
Jackie, a licensed Realtor / Broker, has been a businesswoman for more than thirty-eight years, running two major companies and developing major residential properties. She has also served as president of the Louisiana Realtor Association.
Jackie began her career in public service in 1990 representing Council District “C,” which then included New Orleans’ historic French Quarter, Algiers, Bayou St. John, Marigny, Bywater, Treme, Esplanade Ridge, and St. Roch. She served two terms in that seat, as well as two terms in the State House representing District 102. As a Representative, Jackie championed landmark legislation that focused on ethics and government reform, women’s healthcare, fiscal reform, education, child protection, law enforcement, and neighborhood preservation.
Jackie now serves as one of two Councilmembers-at-Large, representing the entire City of New Orleans, an office she won in a special election during 2008.
GOOD GOVERNMENT
One of Jackie’s primary goals in returning to the Council has been to make government more efficient and accountable to the public.
Clarkson is interviewed after a groundbreaking ceremony for the Coast Guard's reconstruction of the Integrated Support Command at Naval Support Activity in Algiers.
She drafted and was the lead author on an amendment to the City Charter that permanently established the Office of the Inspector General in New Orleans. The amendment also allocated a fixed percentage of the City’s annual operating budget to the OIG, an independent police monitor, and the Ethics Review Board, insulating this office from the whims of future elected officials.
Jackie authored a second amendment to the Charter that mandated the City Planning Commission draft a master plan for the future development of the New Orleans that, when complete, elected and appointed officials will have to abide by under force of law. This amendment corrects a historically dysfunctional system of land use. It was a historic win for neighborhoods, small business, major developers, and good government advocates.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Jackie’s major efforts during her past two years in office have been on the front of economic development and innovation.
Military
She considers her greatest accomplishment as an elected official to be the creation and development of Federal City – the largest economic development project in the state, with the potential to retain and bring a total of 10,000 jobs to Louisiana. Federal City will be the largest Marine command center in the United States, house the Coast Guard, provide secure space for federal offices, and create opportunities for new small businesses to thrive.
Clarkson welcomes a WWII veteran returning to New Orleans from an honor flight to Washington, D.C.
The military industry contributes more to New Orleans’ economy than any other sector. Losing this sector of the economy would have been economically devastating. Because of Jackie’s vision and legislative leadership, however, the City’s military industry will thrive, bringing stability and health to our economy and good jobs to our area.
Jackie was also responsible for securing the initial funding that brought the D Day Museum (now the National World War II Museum) to New Orleans. She served on the museum’s original Board of Trustees. When its current expansion is completed, the museum will have an estimated annual economic impact to Louisiana of $102 million and create more than 500 permanent jobs.
Biomedicine
Jackie has long been a leader in the effort to bring a comprehensive biomedical district to New Orleans to rival those of Johns Hopkins and University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Tulane University President Scott Cowen (left), Clarkson, and LSU System President John Lombardi (right) at the signing of the MOU between the two universities for a new public teaching hospital in New Orleans.
Her vision is to see the health industry as a major pillar of New Orleans economy – providing thousands of high-paying jobs for New Orleanians.
As a state legislator, Jackie authored legislation bolstering the fledgling economy of genetics research. Jackie was also integral in the development of the Tulane Cancer Center. She has continued to work with state and federal officials to secure a V.A. hospital in downtown New Orleans. She continues to work with leaders from Tulane and LSU medical centers to support the building of a new academic teaching hospital and of expansion of services with the Cancer Center.
Hospitality, Tourism, and the Arts
Jackie is, without a doubt, more committed to New Orleans’ hospitality, tourism, and arts industry than any other elected official. Jackie led the reopening of New Orleans’ Mahalia Jackson Center for the Performing Arts. She has also worked tirelessly on the public private partnership to reopen the Seanger Theatre – a development she sees bringing life to a Downtown Entertainment District, including the Orpheum, the Joy, and the State Palace Theatre. Jackie was the original co-author, with then-Rep. Steve Scalise, on state tax credit legislation that has helped filmed and live performances in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana flourish.
Clarkson addresses members of the hospitality industry at the National Tourism Day Travel Rally in New Orleans.
Jackie worked with Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu to institute Cultural Products Districts around the City, sales-tax free zones for vendors of unique local art. She brought artists back to Jackson Square as a district councilperson. She worked tirelessly to clean up the Quarter – the heart of New Orleans’ tourism economy. Jackie has served on the Board of or been a working supporter of almost every performing arts group in the City, including Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, the oldest continually performing community theatre in the country; the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; the Louisiana Opera; the New Orleans Ballet; Tulane Summer Lyric; and the Southern Repertory Theatre.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Jackie has also been a strong and active member of numerous civic organizations including:
Clarkson cuts a ribbon at Samuel Green Charter School with Chef Emeril Lagasse and school leaders for the new Edible Teaching Kitchen and Commercial Cafeteria Kitchen.
Founding Member, National World War II Museum Board of Trustees
Board Member, University of New Orleans Board for Business and Higher Education
Board of Governors, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Board Member, Cabrini High School
Board Member, Catholic Cultural and Heritage Center of New Orleans
Board Member, Overture to the Cultural Season
Board Member, GNO Young Audiences
Member, New Orleans Military Advisory Committee
Member, New Orleans Federal Alliance for Federal City
Member, LSU/Tulane Cancer Research Center Consortium
Advisory Board, Delgado Community College
Board of Ambassadors, Holy Cross College
Advisory Board, Louisiana Philharmonic
Advisory Board, NORD/NOBA Ballet
Member, Save Our Cemeteries
Member, Audubon Institute
Trustee, New Orleans Museum of Art
FAMILY
Clarkson with her husband, children, and grandchildren at an October Hotel Monteleone Re-Election Fundraiser.
Jackie, a native of Algiers, and her husband, Buzz, have raised five successful daughters, including Oscar-nominated, Emmy-award winning actress, Patricia Clarkson. They have ten grandchildren. Jackie is the daughter of the late New Orleans legendary coach Johnny Brechtel, founder of the New Orleans Recreation Department.
