Louisiana state seal Louisiana Ethics Administration Program
Home Charges Search EAB Decisions Search
STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> DF LOU DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> �,off �Srr Sf <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> oONeioENc� (225)219-5600 <br /> »o»••' FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> August 11, 2025 <br /> Katherine "Paula" Carter <br /> P.O. Box 656 CONFIDENTIAL <br /> Mangham, Louisiana 71259 Pursuant to <br /> LSA-R.S.42:1141.4K <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-337 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Ms. Carter: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on August 8, 2025, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") prohibits your <br /> husband from being appointed Interim Police Chief while you serve as an alderman for Town of <br /> Mangham. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You currently serve as an alderman for the Town of Mangham. You stated that the current Police <br /> Chief is in poor health. The Board of Alderman is in search of qualified leadership for the Police <br /> Department. You provided that Mangham is a small Town and has a limited population. Your <br /> husband, Tracy Carter, is one of the few residents who has the qualifications to become Police <br /> Chief. The Mangham Police Chief is an elected position. The Board of Alderman would like to <br /> appoint an interim Police Chief until a new election can be held. Additionally, you stated that you <br /> would recuse yourself from participation in this matter. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1113A(1)(a) provides that no public servant...or legal entity in which he has a <br /> controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, subcontract, or other transaction that is <br /> under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant. <br /> La.R.S.42:1102(2)(a)(vi)defines"agency"to mean,for public servants of political subdivisions, <br /> it shall mean the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any <br /> governing authority and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a govermnental entity, it <br /> shall mean the governmental entity. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant"to mean a public employee or elected official. <br /> her organizational unit of a governmental entity. <br /> ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION <br /> As an elected Alderman for the Town of Mangham, you are a public servant pursuant to La. R.S. <br /> 42:1102(19). Your agency for purposes of the Code is the Town of Mangham. <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2025-337) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />