Take Action

After an in-person visit, a phone call is one of the most effective methods for directly alerting your elected officials to your concerns. This tutorial will help you contact New Orleans, Louisiana and national representatives. People who have never contacted their public officials via phone may be intimidated by the process.

However, once you have overcome the anxiety of placing the call, you will find that “direct contact” with your elected officials can offer more information than a form letter (or worse, no response) in reply.

If you are concerned about an issue that affects all of New Orleans, contact your mayor, the at-large councilmembers (they represent the entire city) and your district’s councilmember. While most people in New Orleans know who their mayor is, they may not know who their City Councilmember is. To identify who your City Councilmember is, contact the receptionist for the City Council at the number in the chart below. After you give them your address, they should be able to identify who the councilmember for your district is.

Tips For Calling Your Elected Officials:

• Be prepared for the phone call. Jot a few key points down on a piece of paper and tick them off as you speak.
• If you are leaving a message, it should last no longer than 30 seconds. Even interested people get tired of rambling messages.
• Timing is everything. Do not call if the action has already happened or is not relevant. Try not to call more than three times during the life cycle of any issue.
• Ask to speak to the elected official or his/her aide. If that person is unavailable, be prepared to leave him/her a message.
• Identify yourself by name and address. Identify yourself as a constituent if applicable.
• If you represent a corporation or organization, say so. Unfortunately, most politicians pay more attention to a group than an individual—they’re counting votes. However, a good politician also knows that one person calling represents many more individuals who share a similar opinion.
• Be confident, thoughtful and polite. Never be rude or hostile, which will cause you to be labeled a crank.
• Keep things friendly. Maintain a positive relationship with politicians - they may be in this office or a higher one for decades.

Phone Numbers

• Mayor Ray Nagin (504) 658-4900
• Councilmember Arnie Fielkow (At-Large) (504) 658-1060
• Councilmember Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson (At-Large) (504) 658-1070
• Councilmember Shelley Midura (District A) (504) 658-1010
• Councilmember Stacy Head (District B)*(504) 658-1020
• Councilmember James Carter (District C) (504) 658-1030
• Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell (District D) (504) 658-1040
• Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis (District E) (504) 658-1050
• Mayor’s Office Of Public Advocacy (504) 658-4015
• Receptionist, City Council (504) 658-1000