Honorable Cynthia Lee Sheng
Parish President

Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng was sworn into office on January 8, 2020. Prior to her role as the first female Parish President for Jefferson Parish, she served as Councilwoman At-Large for Division B in 2015 after serving as the Councilwoman for District 5 since 2009.

Cynthia showed an interest in public service early in her life and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. She is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and served for 10 years as a federal law enforcement officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland and Newark, New Jersey.

Some of Cynthia’s most noteworthy work while serving as a Councilmember included revitalizing Fat City, advocating for a new approach to living with water by promoting green infrastructure and assisting in the negotiation of a decades-long property dispute to great success: The site is now the location of Jefferson Parish’s first Trader Joe’s.

As Jefferson Parish President, Cynthia has used her passion for efficiency and partnership to lead Jefferson Parish through unprecedented times, including the COVID pandemic in 2020 and beyond, Hurricane Ida in 2021, tornadoes in 2022, as well as 41 days of record-breaking heat and a northward moving saltwater wedge in 2023. Not only has Cynthia responded so well to these crises, but she constantly works to take Jefferson Parish to the “Next Level” by encouraging new ideas, technology and a more efficient way of running government.

Cynthia’s family is well known to Jefferson Parish residents. Her grandfather opened the House of Lee Restaurant in the 1950s at the corner of Causeway Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Her father was Sheriff Harry Lee, who proudly served and protected Jefferson Parish for more than 28 years. Cynthia was educated at St. Angela Merici, Mount Carmel Academy, Loyola University New Orleans and George Washington University. She lives in Metairie and has two children, Gavin and Miranda.  

To send an email message, click on the link below.

Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng