NEW ORLEANS – Gov. John Bel Edwards was among state and local leaders honoring Ken Carter, a local attorney and businessman who was one of the city’s first African-American tax assessors, who died Aug. 3 at the age of 74.
Edwards said Carter was “one of the kindest and most decent people I’ve met. He led by example and served the people of New Orleans in many ways.”
Edwards asked Louisiana citizens to join him and his wife in sending prayers and deepest condolences to Carter's wife, Gigi; his daughters, including state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans), who chairs the Louisiana Democratic Party; other members of his family; and friends throughout the New Orleans community.
In May 2015, Carter and his wife celebrated 50 years of marriage. At that time, according to the information offered by WGNO.com, his daughter and other state senators presented the couple with a resolution honoring their golden anniversary.
Among his career highlights, the article said that Carter was one of the attorneys involved in a Louisiana lawsuit against tobacco companies. “He represented the plaintiffs and helped secure smoking cessation programs for people in the state,” the article stated.
“Kenneth Carter was one of those larger-than-life New Orleanians whose impact on the city transcends his history-making tenure as one of our first African-American tax assessors," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. "He was a father, a husband, a servant leader, an attorney, a mentor and so much more. We mourn his loss, but we have faith in his spirit living on through his family, who are in our prayers,”
According to New Orleans city offices, Carter also has a daughter who works as the social media manager in its Office of Communications and another daughter who is a developer in the city.
Carter was a graduate of Xavier Prep and made history as one of the first four African-Americans to integrate Loyola University’s undergraduate program in 1962. He later co-founded the BOLD political organization and ran for mayor of New Orleans in 1994.
“Ken Carter was a trailblazer in our city and state. He opened doors of opportunity for thousands of students and political activists with his passion and commitment to justice and fairness," former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) said. "He was widely admired and will be missed by his close and loving family and many friends.”