Arnie Fielkow, President, New Orleans City Council

Arnie Fielkow was elected on May 20, 2006 as the newest Councilman-at-Large and current Vice President for the City Council of New Orleans. Fielkow received over 61,000 votes (56% of the vote) and joined fellow Councilman-at-Large, Oliver Thomas, and the newly elected City Council for a four-year term which began on June 1, 2006. In June 2007, Councilmember Fielkow will assume the Council presidency, whose term lasts for one year.

Fielkow possesses a wealth of experience in sports management and law, having most recently served as Executive Vice President of the NFL's New Orleans Saints. In this capacity, he served as the top senior management official presiding over all administrative/business departments, including marketing, sales, regional development, governmental affairs, community relations, business media relations and youth programs.

Prior to joining the Saints, Fielkow was involved in Major League Baseball's player development system by serving as President and General Counsel of the historic Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs and as President of Minor League Baseball's AA Association. During his six-year tenure, Fielkow oversaw the construction and renovation of six new ballparks and introduced marketing and business programs that catapulted the Southern League into one of the most respected leagues within Minor League Baseball.

Previously, Fielkow served as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel of the Continental Basketball Association, the official developmental league of the NBA. During his tenure, he negotiated new player and referee development agreements with the NBA and helped the League reach record attendance levels. He also introduced and administered several new programs, including a national television agreement with ESPN2, a CBA national radio contract, and a multi-game exhibition series involving former Lakers' great Magic Johnson. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of USA Basketball.

Fielkow began his professional career as a practicing attorney in Chicago, and eventually co-founded the law firm of Grossman, Solomon, & Fielkow, P.C. A member of the Illinois and Wisconsin Bar Associations, Fielkow has authored several legal and sports-related articles/publications, including "Civil Rico: The Insurers Fight Back" and "CBA: A World of Opportunity", and is a frequent public speaker at national and local sports industry events. Fielkow immersed himself in the New Orleans community, serving on the Board of Directors for Greater New Orleans, Inc., United Way, Each One, Save One, the World Trade Center, Audubon Commission, The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Touro Synagogue and the National Conference for Community and Justice. He also co-chairs the Sports Cluster for GNO, Inc. and was an executive committee member of the Super Bowl XXXVI Host Committee.

A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Fielkow is a 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin - School of Law and earned his B.A. degree with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from Northwestern University.