The New Orleans City Council will have two open seats on the November 6 ballot. The second vacancy comes after District E Councilman Jon Johnson’s guilty plea to federal corruption charges.
Councilman Johnson delivered his resignation letter to City Hall hours after pleading guilty in federal court. He’s admitted siphoning Hurricane Katrina relief funds from a Ninth Ward housing nonprofit to pay expenses from an unsuccessful state senate race in 2007. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says Johnson also provided false documents to obtain a Small Business Administration loan.
Johnson said he had hoped to resign his council seat on Monday, but his letter was accepted and made effective immediately. Also on the November 3 presidential ballot will be the District B position vacated when Stacy Head won an at-large seat. Terms for both council positions run through May 2014.
