yenni was elected mayor of kenner in 2010 and he was later reelected with 75% of the vote against 2 other challengers to a second term. in 2015, he was a republican candidate for president of jefferson parish in the october 2015 election, in which he defeated parish councilman at large elton lagasse and 3 other candidates in the primary election. he was inaugurated as parish president on january 6, 2016. his administration got voters to approve the renewal of a $.01 sales tax-generating the largest public works capital improvements in the parish's history. when complete over 500 million dollars in infrastructure improvements will have been done.