The Principality of New Orleans

One of my core beliefs is that elected officials should be accountable to the people. They also should be responsible for a sufficiently significant and visible function that they can be fairly judged by the people.

Orleans Parish has too many elected officials in minor positions. That provides only personal power and patronage without sufficient visibility for accountability. These minor Nobles inevitably seem to become vassals of a larger Duke or Prince who controls their political future. It is distinctly feudal, with inevitable amounts of intrigue and perfidy. Each minor Noble seeks to enhance his (or increasingly her) apparent power by creating the impression that access to some public service is through the good graces of the Noble, rather than the citizens due as their right from their elected representative.

The system has evolved through usage to include the almost unassailable power of each District Council Member over any matter in that members district, regardless of the citywide impact or importance. What we have are isolated pockets of personal power service small public functions for no apparently reason. Responsibility becomes so diffuse that every office holder can blame their failings on some other entity.

My progressive friends seem to feel that if they could only get the "right" people in office, everything would be fine. I think the system of government is broken and needs a serious overhaul. Some steps have been taken but not nearly enough.

4 Clerk of Courts.
2 Recorders/Registrars.
2 Sheriffs.
2 Constables.

Why?