Up Close & Personal

Cynthia Lee-Sheng—Making a Name for Herself

Written by Jill Willie
Photography by Terry Thibeau

Growing up as the only child of the late Sheriff Harry Lee and Lai Lee, Cynthia Lee-Sheng learned the importance of public service at an early age. Surprisingly, she did not consider running for public office until August 2008; instead preferring to devote the majority of her career “behind the scenes” as a federal officer at the Department of Justice. As she enters her second year as Councilwoman for District 5, it is obvious that Cynthia has taken to her new position as if she were born for it.

After receiving her master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University and graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, she spent ten years moving through the ranks at DOJ in five different states. She went on to become a Certified Public Accountant specializing in fraud cases as Manager of Litigation and Forensic Consulting at Laporte, Sehrt, Romig & Hand. 

Although only in her freshman term as Councilwoman, her experience has already come into play in the political arena. Scandals from the highest level of parish government have shaken the public’s trust in elected officials.
“This has been a challenging year to be in public office in Jefferson Parish,” she said. “But, I firmly believe we will be better for it at the end of the day.”

In an effort to restore public confidence in government, Cynthia has authored legislation that will result in some of the toughest ethics standards in the country. While the State already requires elected officials to file financial disclosure, the new legislation will hold the top 113 executive level parish personnel to similar requirements. “Our financial disclosure is a strong piece of legislation designed to deter conflicts of interests. I am very hopeful this legislation will enhance public confidence in the integrity of government. This will be the first time in Jefferson Parish government where financial disclosure is applied to non-elected officials,” she said.

In addition to taking the lead on ethics reform, Cynthia has been ardent in her support and leadership for the revitalization of Fat City. The area has already seen $4 million worth of infrastructure investment: improved drainage, sewer and water upgrades, repaved concrete streets, decorative sidewalks and new light poles. She noted that improving the infrastructure was vital to spurring new investment and reinvestment in the area. 

Cynthia has researched other cities that have undergone extensive renewal and sees a lot of similarities between Fat City and Times Square in New York. “Some of the reasons they were able to turn Times Square around was because government focused on fighting crime and driving out the sex industry. Fat City is a prime real estate location and it is not living up to its natural advantages and potential,” she said. “We are getting buy in from the public and business owners on how to shape Fat City for the future. And while there may be some resistance to the zoning changes and stricter standards from land owners in the short term, the result will be increased property values in the long term.”

The Parish Council recently closed down a bar in the area because of reports of illegal activities. After receiving reports from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office of under-age drinking and at Cynthia’s request, the Council convened a meeting of the Alcohol Beverage Permit Review Committee to consider denying the liquor renewal permit of the offending bar. According to Council Research and Budget Director, Alan Gandolfi, this Committee had not met to revoke or deny a liquor permit for more than 20 years.

Hard decisions like this will need to be made for the transformation of Fat City to take place. Noting that she received a strong work ethic from her parents (she began working in her grandfather’s restaurant adjacent to Fat City when she was 12 years old), it is clear that Cynthia has the wherewithal and commitment to make it happen.

With the lofty goals of re-establishing public trust in Jefferson Parish government and the wholesale reinvention of Fat City, Cynthia said her father would be “very surprised, pleasantly surprised” to discover her new role in public life.

“We never talked about me running for elected office,” she said. “My grandfather pushed my dad into geology—a career that he did not want to pursue, but that he did until he finally decided to follow his love of law and law enforcement. I think my dad was sensitive to not do the same thing to me and instead let me forge my own path.”

And while Cynthia may never have felt pressured to follow in her father’s footsteps, she did grow up under her father’s shadow. Being in a place where no one knew who she was compelled her to move away from home for a decade. During that time she built her own career and her life, marrying Stewart Sheng in 1998. One year later, pregnant with their first child, Cynthia and Stewart moved to Metairie to be close to her family.

She said coming back on her own terms has made all the difference in the world. Stewart, who is from New Jersey, enjoys the South Louisiana outdoors probably as much as her father did. She jokes that her husband has probably seen more of Louisiana than she has due to his frequent fishing trips. “I am lucky in that I have a spouse who is so supportive of me. He enables me to have a career like this,” she said.

Together, they are raising their two children, a son who is 10 years old and a daughter who is seven. She is grateful that her children got to know her father, and that he got to know them before he passed away in 2008. “My kids were old enough that he got to see who they are as people and love their personalities.”

While others had encouraged her to run for office throughout the years, it was not until Stewart brought it up that Cynthia gave it serious consideration. Cynthia said she was inspired not only by her husband’s confidence in her ability to do the job, but also by the courage her father displayed during his battle with leukemia, to run for the seat vacated by Jennifer Sneed in 2009.

“After seeing what my father went through when he was sick, I knew I could put myself out there as a candidate because the stakes weren’t nearly as high by comparison,” she said. ◗