John Georges
Encyclopedia
John Georges is a New Orleans
, Louisiana
, business
man who formerly served on the Louisiana Board of Regents
, the body which supervises higher education
in his native state.
He is a commissioner of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad
and the chairman of Georges Enterprises. In 2007, Georges ran for governor as an Independent. He received 186,000 votes and procured a plurality in Orleans Parish. In 2010 he sought the office of mayor
of New Orleans, running as a Democrat
; he finished a distant third behind two other Democrats.
In 1992, Georges was appointed by the governor to the Board of Regents, which has budgetary responsibility for Louisiana’s public higher education, including nineteen public colleges, universities, and professional schools. He has served as a member of the University of New Orleans Foundation, LSU Medical Foundation, and Tulane President’s Council. He is in his second term on the Public Belt Commission, which exerts management of the publicly owned terminal-switching railroad in New Orleans and maintains the railroad portion of the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River
. In 2008, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad celebrated the opening of its refurbished main facility.
Georges is known for his philanthropic work and for the millions of dollars he has contributed to non-profits, universities, museums and civic groups. He supports a diverse group of charities, with an emphasis on education, the arts, preservation, and faith-based initiatives. He played a significant role in recovery efforts for the University of New Orleans and its Arena after Hurricane Katrina
. John, who is fluent in Greek, was the President of the New Orleans Greek Community during Hurricane Katrina. He is an active member of his church, The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on Bayou St. John. He was instrumental in rebuilding his own and other churches after Hurricane Katrina. In October 2009, he hosted Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in New Orleans. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world.
.
They have two daughters Zana, 18, and Liza, 17, and a son Nike, 14. His mother Anita, and siblings Pam, Alexa and Constantine, all live in New Orleans.
, despite having never run for public office previously. As an Independent, he finished third in the balloting with 186,800 votes (14 percent). He achieved a plurality in his hometown of New Orleans. Republican Bobby Jindal
, making his second bid for governor, won outright in the primary with 54 percent of the vote. Democrats
Walter Boasso
, a departing state senator
from St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans, and Foster Campbell
, a Louisiana Public Service Commission
er from Bossier Parish, finished second and fourth, respectively. Jindal prevailed in sixty parishes. Georges won 36 percent of the vote in Orleans Parish; that was his only plurality showing among the state's sixty-four parishes.
Veteran Louisiana political reporter John Hill
notes that Georges made the largest known buy of television ads in the 2007 election. He purchased $2 million in advertising in August. The next largest known expenditure in this election was Walter Boasso's $1.3 million purchase for June. Jindal's campaign did not disclose its media expenditures.
When Georges failed to place in the Governor's race against Jindal, he considered running for Lt. Governor if Jindal would support him, but failing that, stayed in the Governor's race and ran last.
on 4 November 2009. http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/john-georges-new-orleans-mayors-race-2010-democrat Despite spending more on his campaign the any other candidate http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/john_georges_campaign_spending.html, Georges finished a distant 3rd with 9.21% of the vote http://staticresults.sos.louisiana.gov/262010_36.html in the election which saw a victory by Mitch Landrieu
in the first round of voting http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/mitch_landrieu_wins_new_orlean.html.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man who formerly served on the Louisiana Board of Regents
Louisiana Board of Regents
The Louisiana Board of Regents is a government agency in the U.S. state of Louisiana that is responsible for coordination of all public higher education in the state...
, the body which supervises higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in his native state.
He is a commissioner of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad
New Orleans Public Belt Railroad
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad is a non-profit terminal switching railroad, owned by the City of New Orleans. It connects with six Class I railroads serving the city, and provides switching and haulage service....
and the chairman of Georges Enterprises. In 2007, Georges ran for governor as an Independent. He received 186,000 votes and procured a plurality in Orleans Parish. In 2010 he sought the office of mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New Orleans, running as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
; he finished a distant third behind two other Democrats.
In 1992, Georges was appointed by the governor to the Board of Regents, which has budgetary responsibility for Louisiana’s public higher education, including nineteen public colleges, universities, and professional schools. He has served as a member of the University of New Orleans Foundation, LSU Medical Foundation, and Tulane President’s Council. He is in his second term on the Public Belt Commission, which exerts management of the publicly owned terminal-switching railroad in New Orleans and maintains the railroad portion of the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. In 2008, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad celebrated the opening of its refurbished main facility.
Georges is known for his philanthropic work and for the millions of dollars he has contributed to non-profits, universities, museums and civic groups. He supports a diverse group of charities, with an emphasis on education, the arts, preservation, and faith-based initiatives. He played a significant role in recovery efforts for the University of New Orleans and its Arena after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. John, who is fluent in Greek, was the President of the New Orleans Greek Community during Hurricane Katrina. He is an active member of his church, The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on Bayou St. John. He was instrumental in rebuilding his own and other churches after Hurricane Katrina. In October 2009, he hosted Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in New Orleans. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world.
Early life
John Georges was born in New Orleans to Dennis and Anita Georges. His father was a Greek immigrant who put John to work at the age of 11 sweeping the warehouse for the family business. At age 15, John began making deliveries in a truck. John maintained leadership roles throughout his education, ranging from high school class president and student body president to president of his fraternity in college. He continued working throughout college and graduated in 1983 on the dean's list from Tulane UniversityTulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.
Family
John met his wife, the former Dathel Coleman, on a blind date set up by their best friends.They have two daughters Zana, 18, and Liza, 17, and a son Nike, 14. His mother Anita, and siblings Pam, Alexa and Constantine, all live in New Orleans.
Career
John Georges is now Chairman of Georges Enterprises. Georges Enterprises comprises several types of businesses, including grocery distribution, offshore marine services, video and arcade entertainment, food services and investments. Georges Enterprises began as Imperial Trading Company in 1916. Imperial Trading is a wholesale grocery company that distributes goods ranging from candy to health and beauty products. When John joined Imperial it was a $29 million dollar business; today, John claims the estimated sales are almost $1 billion.2007 campaign for governor
John Georges came in third place in the 2007 Louisiana gubernatorial electionLouisiana gubernatorial election, 2007
The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 2007 was held on October 20. The filing deadline for candidates was September 6. On the day of the election, all 12 candidates competed in an open jungle primary. With all precincts reporting, Bobby Jindal won the election with 54%.-Background:Elections in...
, despite having never run for public office previously. As an Independent, he finished third in the balloting with 186,800 votes (14 percent). He achieved a plurality in his hometown of New Orleans. Republican Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, making his second bid for governor, won outright in the primary with 54 percent of the vote. Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Walter Boasso
Walter Boasso
Walter Joseph Boasso is a wealthy businessman and former Democratic state senator from Chalmette, the seat of St. Bernard Parish in south Louisiana. He was defeated in a bid for governor in the October 20, 2007, jungle primary. Boasso won 47 percent in his own St. Bernard Parish, his sole...
, a departing state senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans, and Foster Campbell
Foster Campbell
Foster L. Campbell, Jr. , is a Democratic member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, a former 26-year member of the Louisiana State Senate, and an unsuccessful candidate for governor in the October 20, 2007, jungle primary. Campbell polled 161,425 votes and won two parishes: Red River and...
, a Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year terms...
er from Bossier Parish, finished second and fourth, respectively. Jindal prevailed in sixty parishes. Georges won 36 percent of the vote in Orleans Parish; that was his only plurality showing among the state's sixty-four parishes.
Attention from the press
Georges began running television ads for his campaign the last week in July. Georges candidacy has attracted the attention of the Greek press in the United States. Baton Baton Rouge Morning Advocate reported that Georges would tout himself as a political outsider and newcomer to state politics.Campaign finance
Georges contributed around $5 million of his own money into his campaign account. Georges reports that he has over $7 million as of late July. About $120,000 came from donations from others to his campaign. Jindal, by comparison, reports around $7.5 million. However, Jindal has raised money from a greater number of donors. Georges spent almost $12 million dollars on his campaign and garnered 186,800 votes. His spending amounted to $64 per vote, which represents the highest spending per vote for a gubernatorial candidate in any state in 2007.Veteran Louisiana political reporter John Hill
John Hill
-Politics:*John Hill , MP for Dorchester *John Hill , United States Representative from Virginia...
notes that Georges made the largest known buy of television ads in the 2007 election. He purchased $2 million in advertising in August. The next largest known expenditure in this election was Walter Boasso's $1.3 million purchase for June. Jindal's campaign did not disclose its media expenditures.
When Georges failed to place in the Governor's race against Jindal, he considered running for Lt. Governor if Jindal would support him, but failing that, stayed in the Governor's race and ran last.
2010 campaign for mayor
Georges announced his candidacy in the New Orleans mayoral election, 2010New Orleans mayoral election, 2010
The New Orleans mayoral election of 2010 is an election for Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first round of voting took place on December 9 through December 11, 2009, and the election occurred on February 6, 2010...
on 4 November 2009. http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/john-georges-new-orleans-mayors-race-2010-democrat Despite spending more on his campaign the any other candidate http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/john_georges_campaign_spending.html, Georges finished a distant 3rd with 9.21% of the vote http://staticresults.sos.louisiana.gov/262010_36.html in the election which saw a victory by Mitch Landrieu
Mitch Landrieu
Mitchell Joseph "Mitch" Landrieu is the Mayor of New Orleans, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, and a member of the Landrieu family. Landrieu is a member of the Democratic Party and a Roman Catholic. He is the son of former New Orleans mayor and Secretary of the United States Department of...
in the first round of voting http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/mitch_landrieu_wins_new_orlean.html.