Roy E. Glapion, Jr. (1935-1999) was educated in Catholic schools in New Orleans and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University in 1958 and a Master's degree in education from Southern University in 1977. He served for 24 years in the Orleans Parish Public School System as a teacher and coach. He was an active and influential member of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. In March 1994, he was elected to the New Orleans City Council as Representative for District "D". He was reelected in February 1998 but soon thereafter he was diagnosed with colon cancer. While fighting the disease, he was elected King Zulu 2000 but died several months before Mardi Gras. The King's float in the Zulu parade rolled empty in his memory on Mardi Gras 2000.

H. Kenneth Johnston, principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School, was appointed by the Council to fill Roy Glapion's District D seat until a replacement could be elected. Johnston, a veteran of 27 years in the New Orleans Public School system, was also president of the Dryades Street YMCA. He served on the Council from January through October 11, 2000. Johnston later ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Orleans Parish School Board (he had resigned his position with the school system while on the Council).

Marlin Gusman graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and Loyola University School of Law. He served as director of the Department of Property Management in Mayor Dutch Morial's administration and was the city's Chief Administrative Officer during most of Mayor Marc H. Morial's terms in office. In 2000 he took a leave of absence from the CAO position to run for the District D City Council seat. He defeated Joyce Glapion in the October 7 election. Marlin Gusman resigned from the City Council on November 18, 2004 following his election as Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff.

David Payton is a native of New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (B.A.), and the University of New Orleans (M.A.). He joined Councilman Marlin Gusman's staff as a legislative aide in 2000. He became the interim Councilman for District D on November 18, 2004 when Gusman resigned to assume the office of Criminal Sheriff. Payton served until newly elected Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell was sworn in on April 12, 2005. After leaving office he went to work as an assistant to Sheriff Gusman.