Cynthia Hedge-Morrell

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Cynthia Hedge-Morrell (born in 1947) is a teacher, a former school administrator and a Democratic politician from New Orleans.

She holds a Bachelor of Administration in Elementary Education from the University of New Orleans and a Master Degree of Science from Loyola University of New Orleans.

She has served as Councilmember representing New Orleans District D, since 2005. District D includes some the neighborhoods that were the most seriously damaged by the Levee failures of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. It covers the Gentilly Area and parts of New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward.

Hedge-Morrell was re-elected, with a reduced majority, in 2006. A number of her colleagues faced disgruntlement related to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Ray Nagin won re-election only after facing a much tougher challenge than expected before the hurricane and half of the members who wished to stay were not back on the City Council. In that context, name recognition and a low turnout may have helped her being re-elected.

For more than 35 years, Hedge-Morrell has been married to local politician Arthur Morrell, who has served as a Representative for District 97 at the Louisiana State Legislature since 1984. District 97 roughly covers the same area as District D.

Hedge-Morrell and her spouse were among the participants to Movie Director Spike Lee's documentary When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts.

[edit] Election History

Councilmember, District D, 2005

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, April 2, 2005

Candidate	Affiliation	Support	Outcome
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell	Democratic	4,959 (84%)	Elected
Eustis Guillemet	Republican	912 (16%)	Defeated

Councilmember, District D, 2006

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, April 22, 2006

Candidate	Affiliation	Support	Outcome
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell	Democratic	10,889 (56%)	Elected
Louella Givens	Democratic	4,194 (22%)	Defeated
Others	n.a.	4,319 (22%)	Defeated