| Advisory opinion regarding whether Hilda Curry, Mayor of New Iberia, may use her campaign funds to pay her airfare and hotel for visits to France and Belgium. |
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Mayor Curry states that she has been invited to meet with the dignitaries in both countries, as Mayor of New Iberia, and participate in various activities in an effort to further a relationship with the twin cities of New Iberia. She states that her intentions are to encourage tourism, cultural and art exchanges, and partner in an educational exchange program. Two years ago, she paid for all of her expenses to travel to Spain to twin with Alhaurin de la Torre, a city about the size of New Iberia. A group of about 20 residents from New Iberia that accompanied me on the trip. The trip was very beneficial for forging relationships and a mutual understanding and respect between two small cities in Spain and the United States.
The twinning provided new business opportunities and promoted tourism. As a result of the trip, New Iberia has experienced an artistic and cultural exchange and partnered in an educational program for exchange students from Spain to the U. S. and the U.S. to Spain. Additionally, New Iberia hosted its first annual Spanish Festival last year and it was a huge success. New Iberia was founded by the Spanish in 1779 and the festival was established to create an educational and cultural exchange of food, music, art and to provide information concerning the history between New Iberia and the Andalusia region of Spain.
Ultimately, residents and visitors recognized the contributions of the original Spanish settlers to our culture. Many Spanish artists displayed their work and a Spanish historian gave lectures concerning early Spanish settlers in the region. The two day festival is planned again for 2013 and New Iberia is expecting more visitors from Spain to travel to New Iberia to attend. Many of the residents in New Iberia are of French heritage and she believes that a visit to the twin cities in Belgium and France to forge relationships would encourage the same cultural, education and economic benefits for our city. She states that she would be visiting these cities in her official capacity as Mayor of New Iberia representing the city and the resident s that live in New Iberia.
During a phone conversation with Mayor Curry, staff was informed that the details of the proposed trip to Belgium and France have not been planned. The trip would be next spring for four or five days. There have been no appointments made to meet with mayors of the twinning cities. However, should Mayor Curry have approval to use campaign funds for the trip, she plans to set appointments with Mayors of the twinning cities. She also states that any expenditures that were not related to her meetings with the Mayors of the cities she would pay. She also states that once an agenda is planned that she would submit documentation to the Board detailing the trip. The possible trip is being planned by locals of Iberia Parish who planned the Spain trip.
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R.S. 18:1505.2I provides that campaign funds may not be used for any personal use unrelated to the candidate's campaign or his holding of public office. This Subsection also provides that excess funds may be used for a future campaign; returned to contributors on a pro-rata basis; given as charitable contributions as provided in 26 USC 170(c) or contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations; or in support of or opposition to a proposition, political party, or candidate.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Aneatra Boykin |
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