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Councilman Thomas 'Tom' Capella was born in
New Orleans, LA. He is the youngest of ten children of the late Lillian
McCormack and the late Bernard J. Capella. Councilman Capella graduated from
Jesuit High School in 1983 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Management at Tulane University in 1987. He received a Juris Doctor from the
Tulane University School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in
1993. He is a member of the LA State Bar Assoc. and Jefferson Bar Assoc.;
and has been admitted to practice before all LA State Courts and the Federal
District Courts in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of LA. He was
elected to the LA House of Representatives for District 88 in 2001. In 2003,
he was elected to the Jefferson Parish Council as Councilman-at-Large,
Division B.
Councilman Capella is married to Stephanie Carroll Blanke, a former
parochial school teacher. He and Stephanie have two daughters, 5 year old
Sophie and 3 month old Eliza Jane. Devoted to youth, he has coached for the
past decade in the athletic program of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO);
helped children's charities as a member of the Directors' Circle of the Fore
Kids Foundation; serves disabled children as a member of the Finance
Committee of St. Michael's Special School; and leads the Jesuit High School
Alumni Association as Class Captain. Committed to improving the quality of
the life of Jefferson Parish, Councilman Capella is a member of the
Pontchartrain Shores Civic Association and the Jefferson Chamber of
Commerce.
Councilman Capella, 40, has practiced law with the Capella Law Firm in
Metairie, LA since 1993. Councilman Capella was elected to the LA House of
Representatives as State Representative for District 88, in 2001. During his
tenure in the House of Representatives, Councilman Capella won the respect
of legislators and the Governor for his leadership. He was a member of the
House Insurance and Judiciary Committee. He co-authored and passed the LA
Anti-Terrorism Act; established the LA Health Works Commission; protected
the benefits and rights for those called into military service; created the
Governors Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation; and
helped municipalities fund vital economic development projects. Governor
Mike Foster credited Councilman Capella for saving the popular TOPS
scholarship program during 2002 Regular Session.
Councilman Capella is now serving as Chairman of Jefferson Parish Council.
He believes his legislative experience in the LA House of Representatives
and his training in management and law at Tulane University has prepared him
to continue his public service on the Jefferson Parish Council. The
Councilman-at-Large position opens the door for Councilman Capella to bring
new energy and fresh ideas to the Jefferson Parish Council. Councilman
Capella's legislative experience, along with relationships in State
government, will be a valuable asset to the new Council.
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