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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> X61 i DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.state.Ia.us <br /> July 12, 2022 <br /> Jeffrey J. Thomas <br /> Director, Equity Media <br /> 701 Poydras Street, Suite 4350 <br /> New Orleans, Louisiana 70139 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-012 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Thomas: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on July 8, 2022, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would prohibit New <br /> Orleans City Council member Oliver Thomas from being employed by Equity Media. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> Equity Media owns and operates WBOK 1230 am radio. WBOK is a talk-show format station <br /> that discusses a wide array of issues relevant to the nation, the State of Louisiana, and the City of <br /> New Orleans,including local politics. Oliver Thomas was a WBOK radio talk show host who took <br /> a leave of absence to run for elected office. Mr. Thomas was elected to the New Orleans City <br /> Council on December 11, 2021. His current term expires on January 11, 2026. <br /> You stated that, while WBOK does not have a business relationship with the New Orleans City <br /> Council, the New Orleans Mayor's Office purchases advertisements and public service <br /> announcements with WBOK. Those purchases do not require approval by the New Orleans City <br /> Council. <br /> You ask whether Oliver Thomas can be rehired by Equity Media as a WBOK radio talk-show host <br /> while serving as an elected member of the New Orleans City Council. <br /> LAw <br /> La. R.S. 42:1111(C)(2)(d) provides that no public servant ... shall receive any thing of economic <br /> value for or in consideration of services rendered, or to be rendered, to or for any person during <br /> his public service unless such services are: (d) Neither performed for nor compensated by any <br /> person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant <br /> knows or reasonably should know that such person has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other <br /> business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency. <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2022-012) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />