A familiar face is expected to be tapped as the next Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans. Sources tell WDSU that Councilman for District A Joe Giarrusso is expected to accept the position. The CAO is tasked with managing the city’s finances, a large undertaking following the city’s more than $200 million deficit. Giarrusso has been Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s go-to man in recent weeks while negotiating bond approval to pay city workers, as well as helping shape the 2026 budget, which was just approved Monday by the council. He is the former Budget Chair for the New Orleans City Council, and is at the end of his second term in District A.He was barred by term limits from seeking re-election to that seat and had previously announced he’d join Phelps Dunbar’s Government Relations and Public Policy team.WDSU reached out to Giarrusso, who declined to comment. Moreno is expected to make a formal announcement regarding key city hall positions on Tuesday. While the CAO is widely viewed as the number-two position to the mayor, she’s also expected to announce her Chief of Staff and several other top positions in public safety and health.
A familiar face is expected to be tapped as the next Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans.
Sources tell WDSU that Councilman for District A Joe Giarrusso is expected to accept the position.
The CAO is tasked with managing the city’s finances, a large undertaking following the city’s more than $200 million deficit.
Giarrusso has been Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s go-to man in recent weeks while negotiating bond approval to pay city workers, as well as helping shape the 2026 budget, which was just approved Monday by the council.
He is the former Budget Chair for the New Orleans City Council, and is at the end of his second term in District A.
He was barred by term limits from seeking re-election to that seat and had previously announced he’d join Phelps Dunbar’s Government Relations and Public Policy team.
WDSU reached out to Giarrusso, who declined to comment.
Moreno is expected to make a formal announcement regarding key city hall positions on Tuesday.
While the CAO is widely viewed as the number-two position to the mayor, she’s also expected to announce her Chief of Staff and several other top positions in public safety and health.