David M. Bordelon

The Board addressed several waiver requests regarding late fees for personal financial disclosure and campaign finance reports, deciding to defer, rescind, or decline waivers based on individual case merits. Additionally, the Board reviewed various advisory opinion requests concerning the Code of Governmental Ethics, covering topics such as post-employment restrictions for public employees, political activities of judicial officers, the use of public funds for volunteer recognition, and potential conflicts of interest for public officials and their private business affiliations. The Board also adopted consent opinions for publication and authorized staff to dismiss related charges, while noting administrative updates regarding electronic filing requirements and staff recognition.

The Board addressed several agenda items, including multiple requests for waivers or reductions of campaign finance late fees and enhanced penalties for various candidates and political action committees, with many items deferred to a future meeting. The Board issued several advisory opinions concerning the Code of Governmental Ethics, addressing topics such as non-profit partnerships by school board members, post-employment restrictions for state employees, and employment conflicts related to family members serving in public office. Additionally, the Board adopted consent opinions for various ethics violations and received administrative updates regarding upcoming filing deadlines and new personnel.

The Board addressed numerous advisory opinion requests concerning the Code of Governmental Ethics, including matters of post-employment restrictions, employment of relatives, and potential conflicts of interest for public officials and employees. Several waiver requests for late filing fees regarding personal financial disclosures, lobbying registrations, and campaign finance reports were adjudicated. In its capacity as the Supervisory Committee for Campaign Finance, the Board imposed civil penalties on multiple candidates for failure to file required reports. Additionally, the Board dismissed pending charges against several individuals and organizations and approved a rule change to increase the food and drink limit for public servants.

The Board convened over two days, addressing numerous advisory opinion requests and waiver requests related to late filings for financial disclosures and campaign finance reports. Key discussions included deferring action on waiver requests for Donald Ray "Don" Cravins, Sr., Steven Jackson, Timothy Burbach, and Ingrid Felicia Payne. The Board suspended fees for Louis Lambert concerning late financial disclosures based on future compliance and concluded that Mr. Louis Russell, II, is prohibited for two years from assisting others with transactions involving his former agency, the Multifamily Housing Development Department at LHC. Several advisory opinions were issued concerning conflicts of interest, including matters involving Joby Verret, Eugene Cooke, Ryan Richard, Keith Lampkin, Philip Livaudais, Bryan Tabor, Andrew Leonards, Theodore Sanders, III, and Claudia Armwood. Furthermore, the Board adopted consent opinions for Ryker Anthony, James King, Danny Allen Hobgood, and Claudia Armstrong. Updates were provided on Tier 2 Personal Financial Disclosure electronic filing requirements and campaign finance staff activities. Action was taken on various campaign finance and personal financial disclosure late fee waiver requests, with some fees suspended based on future compliance and others declined.

The Board addressed multiple docket items concerning late filing fees for various disclosures. The Board affirmed a prior decision regarding late fees for Shawn P. Gibbs. Waiver requests were considered for Timothy Burbach and Kenneth Davis, Sr., with the latter receiving suspension based on future compliance. State Representative Steven Jackson appeared regarding late fees for his 2022 disclosures, resulting in partial suspensions based on future compliance, and the Board declined to waive substantial late fees related to an election report. The Board suspended late fees for candidate Jason Coleman based on future compliance. Several advisory opinions were issued, including confirming the Code of Governmental Ethics does not prohibit the son of an EMS Supervisor from working at his father's station (with required disqualification plan), and that campaign contributions can be used for Mardi Gras expenditures under specific conditions. The Board deferred action on a candidate's late fee request and adopted staff recommendations on various items en globo. Advisory opinions concluded that a City employee is prohibited from receiving additional compensation from city grant funds for work outside official duties, and that the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation cannot pay a student worker for foundation events. The Board declined to issue an opinion regarding employment of family members at a charter school due to missing information, and allowed withdrawal of another advisory opinion request. Further advisory opinions confirmed that a City Clerk can run for local school board (with a note on dual office-holding jurisdiction), post-employment restrictions applied to a former LCPIC employee, a disqualification plan was approved for a UNO Registrar, and nepotism was not prohibited in the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office with an approved disqualification plan. The Board also concluded an LDWF employee can obtain a specific permit, employment with Lafourche Parish is permitted despite a spouse's civil service board membership, and defined contractual limitations for a Shreveport City Marshal's Office employee contracting with Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office. Post-employment restrictions were also established for a former New Orleans OSR employee. The Board declined to render an advisory opinion concerning the spouse of a Bastrop City Council member due to lack of standing. General business included approving prior minutes, adopting a consent opinion regarding a Jefferson Parish Council District 5 violation, and declining to render an opinion regarding potential prohibited sources for a Shreveport Finance Department employee due to the issue concerning past conduct. Administrator's Notes introduced a new IT employee and recognized staff work anniversaries. The Board also unanimously declined to waive several campaign finance late fees and declined to consider reassessments for others. Furthermore, the Board suspended some personal financial disclosure late fees based on future compliance while declining to waive others. Finally, the Board suspended most but not all late fees for a School Board Disclosure violation, while deferring action on another. A consent opinion regarding a Mayor's brother transacting with his agency was adopted with no civil penalty.