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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 165
BY SENATORS HEITMEIER AND ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Belinda Constant as the first woman mayor of Gretna,
Louisiana.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Belinda Constant upon her election as the first woman to serve as mayor of2
Gretna, Louisiana.3
WHEREAS, Belinda Constant began her elective office public service as a city4
council member in Gretna and on April 6, 2013, she was elected mayor of that city, being5
the first woman to so serve; and6
WHEREAS, this mayoral election was greatly anticipated in the community as the7
previous mayor, having served as mayor through seven terms decided not to run, leaving two8
members of the city council to face off in the mayoral race; and9
WHEREAS, Belinda was first elected to the Gretna City Council in 2005, just a few10
short months before the greater New Orleans area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and11
its aftermath and she was reelected in 2010 without opposition; and12
WHEREAS, Belinda is a native of New Orleans and a longtime resident of Gretna,13
Louisiana; and14
WHEREAS, Belinda graduated from Archbishop Blenk High School (now combined15
to form the Academy of Our Lady, a Catholic high school for girls in Marrero) and attended16
Louisiana State University; she is married to Ronnie Constant, and they have raised three17
children on the Westbank; and18 SR NO. 165
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WHEREAS, her work history includes ownership and operation of a court reporting1
business and service as the administrator of both the Jefferson Parish Intensive Probation2
Drug Court and the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from which she is now retired;3
and4
WHEREAS, during her campaign for mayor, Belinda touted her experience, gleaned5
from having taken office mere months before Katrina, in navigating federal agencies to6
secure resources and reimbursements as a significant qualification for serving as Gretna's7
mayor; and8
WHEREAS, her civic involvements have been many, including participation in the9
Council for a Better Louisiana Leadership Program in 2006, and work for St. Joseph Church10
development, Gretna Economic Development Association, Gretna Farmers Market and11
Artwalk, Gretna Heritage Festival, Gretna Historical Society, Friends of the German-12
American Cultural Center, Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful, Jefferson Historical Society,13
the Louisiana Municipal Association, and the Louisiana Association of Drug Court14
professionals; and15
WHEREAS, her plans for her first term as mayor of Gretna include continuing to16
explore and develop economic opportunities by seeking parish, state, and federal grants, to17
upgrade the greatly stressed utility systems in the area, and to continue to expand social and18
recreational opportunities for the citizens of Gretna, with a special focus on senior citizens19
and youth.20
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana21
does hereby commend Belinda Constant upon her election as the first woman to serve as22
mayor of Gretna, Louisiana.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the24
Honorable Belinda Constant, mayor of Gretna, Louisiana.25
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Heitmeier SR No. 165
Commends Belinda Constant upon her election as the first woman to serve as mayor of
Gretna, Louisiana.