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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 165
BY SENATORS HEITMEIER, ALARIO AND MORRELL
A RESOLUTION
To commend Belinda Constant upon her election as the first woman to serve as mayor of
Gretna, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Belinda Constant began her elective office public service as a city
council member in Gretna and on April 6, 2013, she was elected mayor of that city, being
the first woman to so serve; and
WHEREAS, this mayoral election was greatly anticipated in the community as the
previous mayor, having served as mayor through seven terms decided not to run, leaving two
members of the city council to face off in the mayoral race; and
WHEREAS, Belinda was first elected to the Gretna City Council in 2005, just a few
short months before the greater New Orleans area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and
its aftermath and she was reelected in 2010 without opposition; and
WHEREAS, Belinda is a native of New Orleans and a longtime resident of Gretna,
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Belinda graduated from Archbishop Blenk High School (now combined
to form the Academy of Our Lady, a Catholic high school for girls in Marrero) and attended
Louisiana State University; she is married to Ronnie Constant, and they have raised three
children on the Westbank; and
WHEREAS, her work history includes ownership and operation of a court reporting
business and service as the administrator of both the Jefferson Parish Intensive Probation
Drug Court and the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from which she is now retired;
and
WHEREAS, during her campaign for mayor, Belinda touted her experience, gleaned
from having taken office mere months before Katrina, in navigating federal agencies to
secure resources and reimbursements as a significant qualification for serving as Gretna's
mayor; and SR NO. 165 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, her civic involvements have been many, including participation in the
Council for a Better Louisiana Leadership Program in 2006, and work for St. Joseph Church
development, Gretna Economic Development Association, Gretna Farmers Market and
Artwalk, Gretna Heritage Festival, Gretna Historical Society, Friends of the German-
American Cultural Center, Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful, Jefferson Historical Society,
the Louisiana Municipal Association, and the Louisiana Association of Drug Court
professionals; and
WHEREAS, her plans for her first term as mayor of Gretna include continuing to
explore and develop economic opportunities by seeking parish, state, and federal grants, to
upgrade the greatly stressed utility systems in the area, and to continue to expand social and
recreational opportunities for the citizens of Gretna, with a special focus on senior citizens
and youth.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Belinda Constant upon her election as the first woman to serve as
mayor of Gretna, Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Belinda Constant, mayor of Gretna, Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE