| Advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit recently elected Representative Mark Wright from continuing his employment with the American Waterways Operators. |
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Representative Mark Wright requested an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit him from continuing his employment with the American Waterways Operators. He provided that he has been employed with the American Waterways Operators since 2009. He served as Vice-President, Southern Region for the American Waterways Operators, a national association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry. The Southern Region is composed of members in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
As a regional representative, his responsibilities have primarily been to facilitate member governance in the region and work with the US Coast Guard in a variety of projects related to association members. In addition, he has been registered as a federal lobbyist. None of the activities of the American Waterways Operators involve the Louisiana State Legislature.
In addition to the above description, he previously served on the board of the Louisiana Association of Waterways Shipyards (LAWS). LAWS serves industry members in Louisiana independently of his employer, American Waterways Operators. LAWS has a retained a professional lobbying firm. His service as an officer for LAWS was terminated prior to his election to public office. He resigned from LAWS in 2016.
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La. R.S. 42:1111E(1) provides that no public servant, and no legal entity of which such public servant is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee, or in which such public servant has a substantial economic interest, shall receive or agree to receive any thing of economic value for assisting a person in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, with the agency of such public servant.
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Adopt draft advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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