Thinking About Public Service?  

Service on a public board or commission is OPEN to all registered voters of Orleans Parish who also live in Orleans Parish.  This is intentional and gives all eligible voters the opportunity to serve in an official capacity. 

The City of New Orleans is committed to representation of its residents on our public bodies.  "Boards, commissions, and other entities that are truly reflective of the demographics of the city promote mutual understanding and decisions made by boards constituted of a membership that reflects the diversity of the city's population should be responsive to the needs and aspirations of all members of our community. 

As required in the Municipal Code, "It is the policy of the city that the mayor and all other appointing authorities and nominating organizations for boards, commissions, and other legal entities performing functions for or on behalf of the city should consider the demographic composition of the board or other entity in proposing or making appointments to the board or other entity to ensure that the board's composition will be reflective of the city as a whole."  (Article IV, Division 1, Section 2-86)

Some of the seats on boards and commissions have additional requirements.  Those requirements may be (but are not limited to) the following:

  • City Council district
  • Taxing district (as defined in the establishing legislation of that specific body)
  • Profession
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Military service
  • HIV status
  • Education

Appointment Process

There are generally three different types of appointments.  

  • Direct Appointment:  The nominating entity decides on a person to serve and a letter of appointment is sent to the board or commission.
  • Confirmed Appointment:  After the nominating entity decides on a nominee, the City Council confirms the appoint.  This requires the completion of a questionnaire (which is public record) and an appearance before the Governmental Affairs Committee of City Council.
  • External Nominee Appointment:  Entities (outside of City government) submit nominees to the appointing entity.  Then it follows the same process as the confirmed appointment.

The time from when a seat becomes vacant to seating a new member varies greatly and depends on significant number of factors.

What is a Nominating Entity?

Every person serving on a board or commission comes to the role through a process.  Most often a person is nominated to serve.  Below are the people with the capacity to nominate a person to serve on a board or commission.

Elected officials

  • The mayor
  • Members of the New Orleans City Council
  • The governor
  • Members of the Louisiana State Legislature
  • Presidents or mayors of adjacent parishes (for regional boards and commissions)

Local Universities and Colleges (via the president or chancellor)

  • Delgado Community College
  • Dillard University
  • Loyola University
  • Our Lady of Holy Cross University
  • Southern University of New Orleans
  • Tulane University
  • University of New Orleans
  • Xavier University

Neighborhood associations

Professional associations or organizations

  • New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
  • American Institute of Architects (New Orleans chapter)
  • Greater New Orleans, Incorporated
  • Preservation Resource Center
  • New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Asian Chamber of Commerce
  • Port of New Orleans
  • Greater New Orleans American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
  • Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training