Deputy Mayor Emily Arata Announces Departure From City Hall
NEW ORLEANS – Today, Deputy Mayor of External Affairs Emily Arata announced that after over ten years of service to the City and the State, she will leave her post on Jan. 15, 2016, to serve as the Director of Economic Development Initiatives and Community Relations for the Ochsner Health System.
“For over ten years, Emily has been a trusted advisor," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “My Administration has accomplished big things that would not have been possible without the strong communications and governmental affairs strategies that Emily and her team put together. During hurricanes and emergency situations, Emily led our efforts to communicate with the public with frequent and substantive media briefings. As we prepare to break ground at the new airport, Emily was instrumental in working with the airport leadership on my behalf to make this transformational project happen. I am passionate about improving the way our City responds to violence against women and children, so I tapped Emily to work closely with law enforcement and advocates to bring about lasting reforms. She served the City well, and she will be sorely missed.”
Arata served as the Campaign Manager for Mitch Landrieu’s successful campaigns for Lieutenant Governor and later for Mayor, receiving the prestigious national Pollie award as 2010 best local campaign in the country. As Deputy Mayor of External Affairs, Arata was a member of the Mayor's executive leadership team and oversaw the offices of Intergovernmental Affairs and Communications. As the Mayor’s liaison to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Arata worked closely with the MSY team as the airport prepared for an ambitious expansion to the new North Terminal. She served as the Mayor’s designee on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Violence Response and Chaired the Mayor’s working group to implement new Domestic Violence policies. For this work, the New Orleans Family Justice Center honored Arata with a 2015 Champion Award.
“I am truly blessed to have served our community at such an historic time alongside such incredible people,” Arata said. “It has been an honor to have played a small part in so many big wins for the City – from building a new airport to improving the way we respond to domestic violence. But my two little boys will always be most impressed with their mom’s participation in moving last year’s Halloween trick or treating to avoid the rain.”
