| A Request for an Advisory Opinion, submitted by Ronnie Johns ("Mr. Johns"), regarding whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would prohibit his continued service as Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board while he serves on the Board of Directors of Lakeside Bank in Lake Charles, Louisiana. |
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Mr. Johns serves on the Board of Directors of Lakeside Bank, which is a local community bank located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Recently, he was appointed the Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board ("LGCB"). Lakeside Bank does not have any business, contracts, or other financial relationship with the LGCB. Additionally, no facet of Lakeside Bank's business is regulated by the LGCB. Mr. Johns is not an employee of Lakeside Bank and is not involved in the day to day operations of the Bank. Mr. Johns requested an advisory opinion concerning whether his continued service on both boards constitute a violation of the Code.
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La. R.S. 42:1111(C)(2)(d) provides that no public servant and no legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, shall receive any thing of economic value for or in consideration of services rendered, or to be rendered, to or for any person during his public service unless such services are: (d) Neither performed for nor compensated by any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency; conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee's agency; or has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
LaToya D. Jordan |
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