It appears that is the case...public dollars will be spent on the defense of law-breaking elected officials.
The Caddo Commission and the seven Democrat Caddo Commissioners have been sued by the Louisiana Attorney General for breaking the Louisiana Open Meetings Law.
These seven knowingly agreed to present resolutions to Bernie Sanders, John Hussey and The Strand Theatre WITHOUT having the approval of the full Caddo Commission.
The president of the Commission Stormy Gage-Watts is in the third year of her third four year term. Rumor has it she wants to run for the Shreveport City Council next year since she is termed out on the Commission.
The vice-president Ken Epperson has served many terms on the Commission. He will be the president next year of the Commission.
Commissioner Roy Burrell is a former Shreveport Council member and a state legislator.
Commissioner Steffon Jones and Commissioner Ron Cothran have had prior service on the Commission before their current terms.
Victor Thomas is the Commission parliamentarian, and will most likely be approved as the vice-president next year.
Commissioner Greg Young is a former postmaster.
All of these individuals know or certainly should know the requirements of the Open Meetings Law. Thus it can be assumed that each of them knowingly agreed to sign the three resolutions in violation of the Open Meetings Law.
The Commission attorney advises that the Commission will pay the legal fees of each of these law breaking Commissioners in the lawsuit that has been filed. The "rationale" is that the Commissioners were acting in their role as elected officials in approving and then signing the three resolutions.
But here is the question: Were these Commissioners legally acting within the scope of their duties when violating state law? Are public dollars appropriately spent to defend law-breakers?
The only solace is that a judge could rule that these legal fees must be repaid by the guilty seven once a court judgement is rendered against them. Let's hope that is the case.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.