215:. He served as councilor for this district for two terms before being elected to an at-large seat in 2002. While on city council, Thomas developed a reputation as a capable, responsive elected official; he gained a high level of popularity among both black and white voters. His popularity was confirmed in both the elections of 2002 and 2006, when he was elected with a margin wide enough to avoid needing a runoff. He won with 88% of the vote in 2002 and was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2006. There had been widespread speculation that Thomas would run for
81:
239:
parking lots under contract with the city, and paid Thomas in order to ensure that the Morial-era contracts would be renewed under the incoming administration. Thomas agreed to Barre's terms, but also demanded and received one-third of the parking profits in kickbacks through one of his associates.
303:
Following his divorce from
Angelle Laraque, with whom he shares a daughter, Leah, and a son, Bradley, who has passed away, he entered into marriage with Jasmine Thomas. The couple has since had a son named Oliver "Ollie" Thomas III and gained a daughter, Willow.
66:
After graduation, he spent several years on the East Coast working as an account executive for a travel company. He returned to New
Orleans in 1985, where he worked as a substitute teacher and began volunteering in a number of political campaigns.
30:
since 2022. He previously served on the city council from 1994 to 2007. On August 13, 2007, Thomas resigned his council seat after pleading guilty to bribery charges. On
December 11, 2021, Oliver Thomas again won election to the city council.
43:, the son of a laborer and a telephone operator. After graduating from Joseph S. Clark High School, he was able to go to college after receiving an athletic scholarship. In 1982, Thomas received a
982:
276:, a biographical play co-written with Anthony Bean, about his political downfall and personal redemption. Oliver Thomas played himself in multiple episodes in Season 2 of HBO's
997:
227:
On August 13, 2007, Thomas resigned his council seat and pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. In late 2001 and early 2002, Thomas took $ 15,000 in kickbacks from
977:
783:
185:
203:
Thomas was first elected to City
Council in 1994, representing District B – a district which includes BOLD's home neighborhood of Central City as well as the
699:
669:
89:
992:
248:
255:
to serve the final few months of his sentence. In August 2010, he was allowed to return to his home and serve the remainder of his sentence under
204:
23:
283:
In the show, a fictionalized version of events is told, set in 2007, taking place just before his real-life arrest for bribery in 2007.
244:
171:
259:. His sentence was officially completed on September 8, 2010, having been reduced for good behavior while he was incarcerated.
196:, Thomas was appointed a legislative aide to Singleton in 1986. He then worked as a capital projects manager for the city's
152:
124:
105:
987:
251:. On March 30, 2010, Thomas was released from Oakdale and moved into a halfway house in the New Orleans neighborhood of
814:
791:
131:
94:
197:
707:
677:
228:
98:
757:
730:
189:
914:
138:
27:
941:
891:
972:
120:
252:
886:
967:
216:
208:
56:
44:
48:
539:
212:
278:
924:
426:
354:
40:
145:
608:
240:
On
November 21, 2007, Thomas was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for bribery.
236:
961:
934:
907:
731:"Former New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas transferred to prison in Louisiana"
624:
193:
839:
256:
52:
758:"Former New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas moves to Gentilly halfway house"
232:
108:. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced
60:
861:
192:
neighborhood. A protégé of BOLD leader and longtime city councilor
247:
in
Georgia. In June 2009, he was transferred to the low-security
292:
74:
815:"Oliver Thomas talks about playing Oliver Thomas on 'Treme'"
200:, and as a property manager for a firm in private industry.
272:
Not long after his release from prison, Thomas starred in
26:
politician, actor, writer, and poet who has served on the
249:
790:. New Orleans, LA. September 11, 2010. Archived from
235:. Barre owned a company which operated a number of
670:"Oliver Thomas remains more than a crook, many say"
231:, a local businessman and associate of then-mayor
188:, a political organization based in New Orleans's
184:Thomas began his political career as a member of
8:
983:Santa Fe University of Art and Design alumni
784:"Oliver Thomas to generate drama once again"
896:
998:Louisiana politicians convicted of crimes
172:Learn how and when to remove this message
978:Politicians convicted of program bribery
576:
507:
453:
394:
322:
660:
243:Thomas reported in January 2008 to the
574:Threshold >25% (two to be elected)
505:Threshold >25% (two to be elected)
7:
700:"Councilman resigns, offers apology"
668:Russell, Gordon (August 19, 2007).
14:
706:. August 14, 2007. Archived from
39:Thomas was born in New Orleans's
993:New Orleans City Council members
79:
634:
631:
628:
623:
618:
615:
612:
607:
602:
599:
596:
593:
549:
546:
543:
538:
533:
530:
527:
524:
493:
490:
487:
484:
479:
476:
473:
470:
451:First Ballot, February 7, 1998
444:Councilmember, District B, 1998
436:
433:
430:
425:
420:
417:
414:
411:
385:Councilmember, District B, 1994
364:
361:
358:
353:
348:
345:
342:
339:
320:First Ballot, February 5, 1994
313:Councilmember, District B, 1994
291:Thomas hosts a morning show on
274:Reflections: A Man and His Time
22:(born February 10, 1957), is a
756:Donze, Frank (April 7, 2010).
729:Maggi, Laura (June 25, 2009).
1:
198:Downtown Development District
47:in business studies from the
892:Louisiana Secretary of State
570:At-Large Councilmember, 2006
501:At-Large Councilmember, 2002
245:Atlanta Federal Penitentiary
90:biography of a living person
110:must be removed immediately
1014:
704:New Orleans Times-Picayune
674:New Orleans Times-Picayune
951:Michael Darnell (interim)
948:
939:
931:
921:
915:Councilmember, District B
912:
904:
899:
205:Central Business District
28:New Orleans City Council
223:Bribery and resignation
942:At-Large Councilmember
485:Diane Prunty-Williams
392:Runoff, March 5, 1994
104:Please help by adding
794:on September 13, 2010
710:on September 30, 2007
99:references or sources
925:Renee Gill Pratt (D)
217:Mayor of New Orleans
20:Oliver M. Thomas Jr.
988:Louisiana Democrats
887:City of New Orleans
448:Threshold > 50%
389:Threshold > 50%
317:Threshold > 50%
49:College of Santa Fe
16:American politician
900:Political offices
229:Stan "Pampy" Barre
88:This section of a
956:
955:
949:Succeeded by
935:Jim Singleton (D)
922:Succeeded by
908:Jim Singleton (D)
764:. New Orleans, LA
737:. New Orleans, LA
680:on March 10, 2014
652:
651:
567:
566:
498:
497:
441:
440:
382:
381:
182:
181:
174:
156:
45:bachelor's degree
1005:
946:2002–2007
932:Preceded by
919:1994–2002
905:Preceded by
897:
874:
873:
871:
869:
858:
852:
851:
849:
847:
836:
830:
829:
827:
825:
810:
804:
803:
801:
799:
780:
774:
773:
771:
769:
753:
747:
746:
744:
742:
726:
720:
719:
717:
715:
696:
690:
689:
687:
685:
676:. Archived from
665:
577:
508:
454:
427:Renee Gill Pratt
395:
355:Renee Gill Pratt
323:
308:Election history
257:home confinement
177:
170:
166:
163:
157:
155:
114:
106:reliable sources
83:
82:
75:
71:Political career
41:Lower Ninth Ward
1013:
1012:
1008:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1003:
1002:
958:
957:
952:
945:
937:
927:
918:
910:
883:
878:
877:
867:
865:
862:"Oliver Thomas"
860:
859:
855:
845:
843:
840:"Oliver Thomas"
838:
837:
833:
823:
821:
812:
811:
807:
797:
795:
782:
781:
777:
767:
765:
755:
754:
750:
740:
738:
728:
727:
723:
713:
711:
698:
697:
693:
683:
681:
667:
666:
662:
657:
609:Jackie Clarkson
310:
301:
289:
270:
265:
225:
178:
167:
161:
158:
121:"Oliver Thomas"
115:
113:
103:
84:
80:
73:
55:institution in
37:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1011:
1009:
1001:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
960:
959:
954:
953:
950:
947:
938:
933:
929:
928:
923:
920:
911:
906:
902:
901:
895:
894:
889:
882:
881:External links
879:
876:
875:
853:
831:
819:Times-Picayune
813:Walker, Dave.
805:
788:Times-Picayune
775:
762:Times-Picayune
748:
735:Times-Picayune
721:
691:
659:
658:
656:
653:
650:
649:
646:
643:
641:
637:
636:
633:
630:
627:
621:
620:
617:
614:
611:
605:
604:
601:
598:
595:
594:Oliver Thomas
591:
590:
587:
584:
581:
565:
564:
561:
558:
556:
552:
551:
548:
545:
542:
536:
535:
532:
529:
526:
525:Oliver Thomas
522:
521:
518:
515:
512:
496:
495:
492:
489:
486:
482:
481:
478:
475:
472:
471:Oliver Thomas
468:
467:
464:
461:
458:
439:
438:
435:
432:
429:
423:
422:
419:
416:
413:
412:Oliver Thomas
409:
408:
405:
402:
399:
380:
379:
376:
373:
371:
367:
366:
363:
360:
357:
351:
350:
347:
344:
341:
340:Oliver Thomas
337:
336:
333:
330:
327:
309:
306:
300:
297:
288:
285:
269:
266:
264:
263:Other ventures
261:
237:French Quarter
224:
221:
180:
179:
87:
85:
78:
72:
69:
36:
33:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1010:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
973:Living people
971:
969:
966:
965:
963:
944:
943:
936:
930:
926:
917:
916:
909:
903:
898:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
880:
863:
857:
854:
841:
835:
832:
820:
816:
809:
806:
793:
789:
785:
779:
776:
763:
759:
752:
749:
736:
732:
725:
722:
709:
705:
701:
695:
692:
679:
675:
671:
664:
661:
654:
647:
644:
642:
639:
638:
632:31,092 (18%)
626:
625:Arnie Fielkow
622:
616:36,839 (22%)
610:
606:
600:66,374 (39%)
592:
588:
585:
582:
579:
578:
575:
572:
571:
562:
559:
557:
554:
553:
547:79,472 (41%)
541:
537:
531:84,346 (44%)
523:
519:
516:
513:
510:
509:
506:
503:
502:
483:
477:16,759 (90%)
469:
465:
462:
459:
456:
455:
452:
449:
446:
445:
434:13,042 (48%)
428:
424:
418:13,964 (52%)
410:
406:
403:
400:
397:
396:
393:
390:
387:
386:
377:
374:
372:
369:
368:
356:
352:
338:
334:
331:
328:
325:
324:
321:
318:
315:
314:
307:
305:
299:Personal life
298:
296:
294:
286:
284:
282:
280:
275:
268:Acting career
267:
262:
260:
258:
254:
250:
246:
241:
238:
234:
230:
222:
220:
218:
214:
210:
207:and parts of
206:
201:
199:
195:
194:Jim Singleton
191:
187:
176:
173:
165:
154:
151:
147:
144:
140:
137:
133:
130:
126:
123: –
122:
118:
117:Find sources:
111:
107:
101:
100:
96:
91:
86:
77:
76:
70:
68:
64:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
34:
32:
29:
25:
21:
940:
913:
866:. Retrieved
856:
844:. Retrieved
842:. IMDb. 2018
834:
822:. Retrieved
818:
808:
796:. Retrieved
792:the original
787:
778:
766:. Retrieved
761:
751:
739:. Retrieved
734:
724:
712:. Retrieved
708:the original
703:
694:
682:. Retrieved
678:the original
673:
663:
583:Affiliation
573:
569:
568:
514:Affiliation
504:
500:
499:
460:Affiliation
450:
447:
443:
442:
401:Affiliation
391:
388:
384:
383:
329:Affiliation
319:
316:
312:
311:
302:
290:
287:Radio career
277:
273:
271:
242:
226:
202:
190:Central City
183:
168:
159:
149:
142:
135:
128:
116:
109:
92:
65:
53:liberal arts
38:
19:
18:
968:1957 births
629:Democratic
613:Democratic
597:Democratic
544:Democratic
540:Eddie Sapir
528:Democratic
491:1897 (10%)
488:Republican
474:Democratic
431:Democratic
415:Democratic
362:8609 (38%)
359:Democratic
346:9467 (42%)
343:Democratic
233:Marc Morial
962:Categories
714:August 14,
684:August 19,
655:References
580:Candidate
511:Candidate
457:Candidate
398:Candidate
326:Candidate
132:newspapers
61:New Mexico
35:Early life
24:Democratic
846:March 22,
798:March 22,
768:March 22,
741:March 22,
648:Defeated
563:Defeated
494:Defeated
437:Defeated
378:Defeated
219:in 2010.
162:July 2020
93:does not
868:July 22,
603:Elected
589:Outcome
586:Support
550:Elected
534:Elected
520:Outcome
517:Support
480:Elected
466:Outcome
463:Support
421:Elected
407:Outcome
404:Support
335:Outcome
332:Support
253:Gentilly
209:Mid-City
57:Santa Fe
824:May 29,
640:Others
635:Runoff
619:Runoff
555:Others
370:Others
365:Runoff
349:Runoff
146:scholar
95:include
864:. WBOK
213:Uptown
148:
141:
134:
127:
119:
279:Treme
153:JSTOR
139:books
870:2020
848:2018
826:2011
800:2018
770:2018
743:2018
716:2007
686:2007
645:20%
560:15%
375:20%
293:WBOK
211:and
186:BOLD
125:news
97:any
51:, a
964::
817:.
786:.
760:.
733:.
702:.
672:.
295:.
63:.
59:,
872:.
850:.
828:.
802:.
772:.
745:.
718:.
688:.
281:.
175:)
169:(
164:)
160:(
150:·
143:·
136:·
129:·
112:.
102:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.