Changes

==Background==

==Background==

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Capella is the youngest of ten children of Bernard Joseph Capella, Jr., and the former Lillian McCormack, both deceased. His sister, Mary Jane Capella Silva, an educator and the second oldest of the children, died at the age of sixty on September 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wate.tributes.com/obituary/print_selections/94386918?type=6|title=Mary Jane Capella Silva|publisher=tributes.com|date=September 4, 2012|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}</ref> He graduated in 1983 from the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] [[Jesuit High School (New Orleans)|Jesuit High School]] in New Orleans. He earned a Bachelor of Science in management in 1987 from [[Tulane University]] and a law degree in 1993 from the [[Tulane University Law School]], also in New Orleans, where he maintains his legal practice. He resides in Metairie in Jefferson Parish<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roedelparsons.com/Attorneys/Thomas-J-Capella.shtml|title=Thomas J. Capella|publisher=roedelparsons.com|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> with his wife, the former Stephanie Carroll, a former parochial school teacher, and their two daughters, Sophie and Eliza Jane Capella.<ref name=bteca>{{cite web|url=http://www.bteca.org/details.php?id=250|title=Guest Speaker: Councilman Tom Capella|publisher=Bent Tree Estates Civic Association|date=March 19, 2009|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref>​

Capella is the youngest of ten children of Bernard Joseph Capella, Jr., and the former Lillian McCormack, both deceased. His sister, Mary Jane Capella Silva, an educator and the second oldest of the children, died at the age of sixty on September 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wate.tributes.com/obituary/print_selections/94386918?type=6|title=Mary Jane Capella Silva|publisher=tributes.com|date=September 4, 2012|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}</ref> He graduated in 1983 from the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Jesuit High School in New Orleans. He earned a Bachelor of Science in management in 1987 from [[Tulane University]] and a law degree in 1993 from the Tulane Law School, also in New Orleans, where he maintains his legal practice. He resides in Metairie in Jefferson Parish<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roedelparsons.com/Attorneys/Thomas-J-Capella.shtml|title=Thomas J. Capella|publisher=roedelparsons.com|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> with his wife, the former Stephanie Carroll, a former parochial school teacher, and their two daughters, Sophie and Eliza Jane Capella.<ref name=bteca>{{cite web|url=http://www.bteca.org/details.php?id=250|title=Guest Speaker: Councilman Tom Capella|publisher=Bent Tree Estates Civic Association|date=March 19, 2009|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref>​

Capella has been active in the Catholic Youth Organization and is a member of the finance committee of St. Michael's Special School for disabled children in New Orleans. He is a class captain of the Jesuit High School Alumni Association. He is affiliated with the [[Lake Pontchartrain|Pontchartrain]] Shores Civic Association and the Jefferson [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=bteca/>​

Capella has been active in the Catholic Youth Organization and is a member of the finance committee of St. Michael's Special School for disabled children in New Orleans. He is a class captain of the Jesuit High School Alumni Association. He is affiliated with the [[Lake Pontchartrain|Pontchartrain]] Shores Civic Association and the Jefferson [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=bteca/>​

Capella formerly resided in [[Baton Rouge]] and [[Philadelphia]],  [[Pennsylvania]], dates unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Thomas&qmi=&qn=Capella&qcs=Metairie%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Thomas John Capella|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}</ref>​

Capella formerly resided in [[Baton Rouge]] and [[Philadelphia]],  [[Pennsylvania]], dates unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Thomas&qmi=&qn=Capella&qcs=Metairie%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Thomas John Capella|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}</ref>​

 

==Political life==​

==Political life==

 

On November 24, 2001, Capella narrowly won a low-turnout [[special election]] to succeed Republican Representative [[Jim Donelon]], who resigned effective June 30 to become the assistant state insurance commissioner under J. Robert Wooley, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]. When Wooley later resigned as commissioner, Donelon moved up to the top spot on an interim basis and was elected in 2006 to the position, which he still holds. Capella polled 1,861 votes (50.6 percent) to runner-up fellow Republican Dianna Dyer's 1,489 (40.5 percent). Two other candidates held the remaining 9 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 24, 2001.}}</ref>​

On November 24, 2001, Capella narrowly won a low-turnout [[special election]] to succeed Republican Representative [[Jim Donelon]], who resigned effective June 30 to become the assistant state insurance commissioner under J. Robert Wooley, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]. When Wooley later resigned as commissioner, Donelon moved up to the top spot on an interim basis and was elected in 2006 to the position, which he still holds. Capella polled 1,861 votes (50.6 percent) to runner-up fellow Republican Dianna Dyer's 1,489 (40.5 percent). Two other candidates held the remaining 9 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 24, 2001.}}</ref>​

 

Capella's abbreviated term in the House corresponded with the second administration of Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James Foster, Jr.]], who credited Capella with saving the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS scholarships, adopted in 1998 and named for its key proponent, New Orleans businessman [[Patrick F. Taylor]]. The program particularly benefits the middle class. Capella was a member of the House Insurance and Judiciary committees. He co-authored the Louisiana Anti-Terrorism Act and worked for the rights of military service personnel. He sponsored the creation of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation. He worked to obtain economic development projects for municipalities.<ref name=bteca/>​

Capella's abbreviated term in the House corresponded with the second administration of Republican Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy James Foster, Jr.]], who credited Capella with saving the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS scholarships, adopted in 1998 and named for its key proponent, New Orleans businessman [[Patrick F. Taylor]]. The program particularly benefits the middle class. Capella was a member of the House Insurance and Judiciary committees. He co-authored the Louisiana Anti-Terrorism Act and worked for the rights of military service personnel. He sponsored the creation of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation. He worked to obtain economic development projects for municipalities.<ref name=bteca/>​

 

A victim of [[redistricting]] adverse to his political interest, Capella did not seek reelection to the House to a full term and was succeeded by a Democrat, Cheryl Gray. Instead he was narrowly elected in 2003 to an at-large position on the Jefferson Parish Council. He unseated the veteran Division B member, Edmond Joseph "Ed" Muniz, by 973 votes: 65,721 (50.4 percent) to 64,748 (49.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Jefferson Parish), November 15, 2003.</ref>​

A victim of [[redistricting]] adverse to his political interest, Capella did not seek reelection to the House to a full term and was succeeded by a Democrat, Cheryl Gray. Instead he was narrowly elected in 2003 to an at-large position on the Jefferson Parish Council. He unseated the veteran Division B member, Edmond Joseph "Ed" Muniz, by 973 votes: 65,721 (50.4 percent) to 64,748 (49.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Jefferson Parish), November 15, 2003.</ref>​

 

In 2007, Capella won a second term on the council by a wide margin, 78,531 votes (79.9 percent) to 19,714 (20.1 percent) for the Democrat Fred "Ed" Mathew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_26.html|title=Election Results|date=October 20, 2007|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> Capella left the council in 2011 upon his victory in a special election for Jefferson Parish assessor to succeed Lawrence E. Chehardy, a Republican who retired after thirty-four years in the position in order to return to his law practice. Capella won the po

In 2007, Capella won a second term on the council by a wide margin, 78,531 votes (79.9 percent) to 19,714 (20.1 percent) for the Democrat Fred "Ed" Mathew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_26.html|title=Election Results|date=October 20, 2007|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> Capella left the council in 2011 upon his a special election for Jefferson Parish assessor to succeed Lawrence E. Chehardy, a Republican who retired after thirty-four years in the position to return to his law practice. Capella won the position in

Like his predecessor, Chehardy, Capella is a staunch advocate of the $75,000 homestead exemption in the assessment of property taxes  in Louisiana. In 2013, Capella sent a letter to constituents arguing for the exemption and reminding voters that the renewal of property taxes on their ballots the following month would mean an increase in their 2013 tax bills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/jefferson_parish_assessor_tom_2.html|title=Jefferson Parish Assessor Tom Capella says tax renewals on May 4 ballot would raise 2013 bills|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=April 30, 2013|author=Manuel Torres|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref>​

Like his predecessor, Chehardy, Capella is a staunch advocate of the $75,000 homestead exemption in the assessment of property taxes  in Louisiana. In 2013, Capella sent a letter to constituents arguing for the exemption and reminding voters that the renewal of property taxes on their ballots the following month would mean an increase in their 2013 tax bills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/jefferson_parish_assessor_tom_2.html|title=Jefferson Parish Assessor Tom Capella says tax renewals on May 4 ballot would raise 2013 bills|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=April 30, 2013|author=Manuel Torres|accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref>​

Voters then rejected the tax renewals except for fire protection.<ref>Louisiana special election returns, .</ref>​

Voters then rejected the tax renewals except for fire protection.

 

Capella ran without opposition for his second and third full term as assessor in the primary elections held on October 24, 2015, and October12, 2019.​

Capella ran without opposition for his second and third full terms as assessor in the primary elections held on October 24, 2015, and October 12, 2019.​

==References==

==References==