Councilman-at-large Arnie Fielkow

September 24, 2011

From Stacy Head came two bottles of “Who Dat” Sauvignon Blanc, which she urged Fielkow to pour when he prepares jambalaya and gumbo at his future home in Chicago.

Cynthia Hedge-Morrell presented her colleague a commemorative Super Bowl version of the coveted Zulu coconut, which she noted also doubles as a pencil holder.

One by one, council members bade a fond adieu to Fielkow, a former New Orleans Saints executive who is leaving to take over as head of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

“You are a man of incredible honor, integrity, intellect and compassion, ” Head told Fielkow, who sat at the table in front of the council dais during the tributes. “It has been a privilege to serve with you. I don’t know if I have ever met anyone in public service who exemplifies more of what we should see and expect in our public officials than you.”

In a moment of levity, Head said her respect for Fielkow endured even when they disagreed. “And of course that means you were wrong, ” she deadpanned, drawing a laugh from Fielkow.

Hedge-Morrell told Fielkow that she is happy he has his “foot back in sports, because I know how much you love it, and I know how much you missed it.”

She also thanked him for his work with the city’s youth, sponsoring trips for athletic teams and leading the charge to reform the city’s troubled Recreation Department. “You have moved mountains, ” Hedge-Morrell said.

Jackie Clarkson, who lost a 2006 race for an at-large seat to Fielkow, only to join him a year later when she won a special election to fill the other of the two citywide posts, recounted their changing relationship.

“We came from friends to opponents to co-leaders and friends again, ” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “And it’s been a nice trip.”

Jon Johnson, the only other male on the seven-member council that took office in 2010, made light of his and Fielkow’s minority status. “Thank you very much for having been here, ” Johnson said. “With me. The two of us.”

He then expressed his happiness that another man — Fielkow’s top aide, Eric Granderson — will be joining the council until a permanent replacement is elected in the spring.

Fielkow was equally gracious when he got his turn to speak, hailing his council colleagues for sacrificing time with their families to do the city’s work and calling them “an incredible group of six individuals.”

He closed by predicting better days ahead for his adopted hometown, which he said he “fell in love with” and may return to someday.

“We’ve laid a foundation, we really have. This entire council, the previous council, have laid a foundation, ” he said.

“We’re not all the way there. The cake isn’t fully baked yet. But it’s gonna be. And with your leadership, there’s no question this is going to be an incredible city as we go forward.”

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MADAME CHAIRWOMAN: Arnie Fielkow’s departure next week will open up vacancies on various City Council committees, with the key one being the chairmanship of the Budget Committee, one of the council’s two most important committees.

As expected, the council decided Thursday to elevate the panel’s alternate member, Fielkow’s fellow at-large member Jackie Clarkson, to the chairmanship, bypassing two full members, Stacy Head and Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, who was the chairwoman until Fielkow took over last year.

In view of the sometimes strained relationship between Head and Hedge-Morrell, who are widely expected to face each other next spring in a special election to fill the remainder of Fielkow’s term, Clarkson’s selection was seen as a compromise choice to avoid a messy contest.

In addition, Hedge-Morrell already holds the top post on the powerful Utility Committee, and it is unlikely the council would agree to having the same member lead both of them.

Jon Johnson was named the Budget Committee’s alternate member, replacing Clarkson.

Fielkow’s interim successor, his aide Eric Granderson, is likely to be given his boss’ seat on some other council committees.

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Frank Donze can be reached at fdonze@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3328. Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3320.