Changes

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  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  

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>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns (Jefferson Parish), October 20, 2007.</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=July 9, 2020}}</ref>​ Voters then rejected the tax renewals except for fire protection.

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=July 9, 2020}}</ref>​ Voters then rejected the tax renewals except for fire protection.