Councilmember Jared Brossett did not show up for a City Council meeting Tuesday morning, a day after the news broke that he was arrested again for drunk driving.
In Brossett’s absence, his role as the Budget and Audit Committee chair was tasked to Council President Helena Moreno. She said the council’s Vice President Donna Glapion filed a motion, which all seven council members will co-author, that will have Moreno take over the position to finish the term. The council will vote on the measure Thursday.
“Obviously, it was going to be difficult for him to be here, and we are not going to have any delays in the budget process,” Moreno said about taking over the chair for the budget committee.
Monday marked Brossett’s second arrest in 16 months for drunk driving and his third DWI arrest overall since 2006. According to the officer's report, police were dispatched to the 3100 block of Elysian Fields when a passerby reported a man, Brossett, sleeping in a 2021 Lexus with the engine running. The report also stated that the councilmember had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath when police arrived on the scene.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Brossett has not given a statement on his future as a council member or his candidacy for the second At-Large Position on the council, in which he is running against former State Sen. JP Morrell, Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer and Green Party candidate Bart Everson.
The election takes place on Nov. 13, but the current council will serve until Jan. 10, 2022.
Moreno said she had a conversation with Brossett but didn’t want to comment on what was said or take a position on whether or not he should resign from the council.
Danielle Duplessis-Hammond, the Orleans Parish Chief Deputy Registrar, said that candidates can withdraw from an election at any time, but her office has not had a candidate of any race withdraw from the upcoming election.
Tuesday night Brossett is supposed to appear at a candidate forum for NOLA Complete Streets, a non-profit organization that pushes for safer and more accessible infrastructure. Brossett is also on the Orleans Parish Board of Review, scheduled to meet Wednesday at 10 a.m.
