Moreno withdraws request ahead of State Bond Commission meeting
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno on July 9 withdrew the city’s application seeking state approval for a short-term private loan intended to shore up municipal finances through 2026. In announcing the move, Moreno said she pulled the request because it had become clear the State Bond Commission would likely deny it.
The City Council released a statement expressing agreement with the mayor’s decision. Moreno also said she has identified an alternative way to finance city government through next year but did not provide further specifics.
“It won’t be easy, but we will get it done,”
The withdrawal comes amid escalating tensions between city leaders and state officials that have deepened over recent weeks. At the center of the dispute are maneuvers in state government regarding the clerk positions in Orleans Parish and the resulting legal and political fallout.
Context: clerk positions, grand jury and state response
State lawmakers combined the clerk of criminal court and clerk of civil court positions in Orleans Parish during this legislative session. The change occurred shortly before Calvin Duncan, a man who had been wrongfully convicted, was scheduled to assume the clerk of criminal court role. State officials have maintained the combined seat belonged to Chelsey Richard Napoleon, who was already serving as clerk of civil court.
After the City Council voted 5-2 to appoint an interim clerk and call a new election for the combined seat, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill sent letters to Mayor Moreno, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and the five council members who supported the new election. In those letters, Murrill warned that the officials had "put their own offices in jeopardy" and could face removal if they did not retract their positions.
The Louisiana Supreme Court later sided with the state in a close 4-3 decision, concluding that Napoleon could hold the office without a new election. Following a grand jury indictment charging Murrill with counts of public intimidation and malfeasance in office connected to the dispute, Gov. Jeff Landry publicly criticized the grand jury's action and said he would seek a pardon when permitted by law.
Local consequences and next steps
With the bond application withdrawn, city officials say they have located another financing path to maintain operations through 2026, though what that entails remains undisclosed. The immediate effect is that the matter will not require approval at the upcoming State Bond Commission meeting.
- What changed: Application for a short-term private loan withdrawn July 9.
- Why: Mayor Moreno believed denial by the State Bond Commission was likely.
- What’s next: Moreno says there's an alternate funding plan; details have not been released.
The clash over local offices and the ensuing legal actions demonstrate how quickly state-level interventions can affect New Orleans' governance and finances. City residents will be watching for more information about the alternative funding and whether further state actions will influence municipal operations or future elections.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Legislative session (2026) | State lawmakers combine clerk of criminal and civil court positions in Orleans Parish |
| City Council vote | Council votes 5-2 to appoint interim clerk and call a new election |
| July 9, 2026 | Mayor withdraws bond application; grand jury indicts AG Liz Murrill |
As this dispute unfolds, New Orleans officials face the twin tasks of sustaining city services and navigating a politically charged legal landscape that reaches from local offices to the governor’s office.
