| Advisory opinion request as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (the "Code") prohibits Carter Ledbetter Prejean from continuing fulfilling her contract with the City of Jennings since her father, Wayne Ledbetter, has been elected to the Jennings City Council. |
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Wayne Ledbetter was elected to Jennings City Council District B, on March 29, 2025. His daughter, Carter Ledbetter Prejean, has been contracting with the City of Jennings as an independent contractor since November 17, 2022. Ms. Prejean handles communication for the city via the Internet, Facebook, and news releases, including photography and videography. She is paid a monthly fee. She is supervised by the mayor.
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La. R.S. 42:1112B(1) No public servant, except as provided in R.S. 42:1120, shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, any member of his immediate family. to his actual knowledge, any of the following persons has a substantial economic interest.
La. R.S. 42:1113(A)(1)(a): No public servant, excluding any legislator and any appointed member of any board or commission and any member of a governing authority of a parish with a population of ten thousand or less, or member of such a public servant's immediate family, or legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, subcontract, or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant.
La. R.S. 42:1120. If any elected official, in the discharge of a duty or responsibility of his office or position, would be required to vote on a matter which vote would be a violation of R.S. 42:1112, he shall recuse himself from voting. An elected official who recuses himself from voting pursuant to this Section shall not be prohibited from participating in discussion and debate concerning the matter, provided that he makes the disclosure of his conflict or potential conflict a part of the record of his agency prior to his participation in the discussion or debate and prior to the vote that is the subject of discussion or debate.
La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant" to include a public employee or an elected official.
La. R.S. 42:1102(13) defines "immediate family member" to include a public servant's children.
La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(vi) defines "agency" for public servants of political subdivisions to be the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it shall mean the governmental entity.
La. R.S. 42:1102(12) defines "governmental entity" to mean the political subdivision which employs the public employee.
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Adopt draft advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
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