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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> 4 oN Ld do <br /> OUrsr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> FIDV (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.Ia.gov <br /> May 6, 2024 <br /> Mark Kerry <br /> 9634 HWY 119 <br /> Chopin, Louisiana 71447 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2024-198 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Kerry: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics("Board"),at its meeting on May 3,2024, considered your advisory <br /> opinion request as to whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would permit <br /> you to purchase adjudicated property through a public auction from Natchitoches Parish while you <br /> serve as a Natchitoches Parish Council Member. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You are an elected member of the Natchitoches Parish Council. You own a 34-acre tract of raw, <br /> unimproved land in Natchitoches Parish.Adjacent to your land is a one-acre piece of land with a <br /> mobile home that went to the Sheriff's auction because the property taxes were not paid for several <br /> years. No one purchased the land at the Sheriff's sale, so the land was transferred to a contractor <br /> that manages adjudicated property for the parish. You state that the adjudicated property in <br /> question is an eyesore as it has debris and salvaged items from local dumps piled in the front yard. <br /> You inquired about the property and the parish contractor stated that another adjacent landowner <br /> is also wanting to buy the property. Therefore, the contractor would sell the property through <br /> auction for the parish. <br /> You ask whether you are allowed to bid on and purchase this adjudicated property through a public <br /> auction from Natchitoches Parish. <br /> LAw <br /> La. R.S. 42:1113A(1)(a) states no public servant...or member of such a public servant's <br /> immediate family, or legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into <br /> any contract, subcontract, or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the <br /> agency of such public servant. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant" means a public employee or an elected official. <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2024198) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />