…and it is hurting the citizens of this great City (playing on the…”Our business stinks, but it’s picking up” commercials).

OK – I’d be remiss if I did not address the latest article about the Mayor of Mandeville, Eddie Price. A fishing trip compliments of a waste management company that was going to bid on a new contract (I’m assuming at the time that it was public knowledge that the contract was up for grabs). Was I surprised when I read this? Sadly – not even a tiny bit. If I were an investigative journalist (and I’m not – nor do I play one on TV), I can guarantee there is a lot more that could be dug up when dots are connected in the life of Eddie Price and Mandeville politics. Even though I am no longer working with the recall petition, I still support them in their efforts. So would this trip alone be something he could be in trouble for? Magic 8 Ball said yes.

Go figure – even the website for the Teachers’ Retirement System in LA clearly states the laws for all to read.

RS 42:1115

§1115. Gifts

A. No public servant shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from 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:

(1) Has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant’s agency, or

(2) Is seeking, for compensation, to influence the passage or defeat of legislation by the public servant’s agency.

B. No public employee shall solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public employee knows or reasonably should know that such person:

(1) Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee’s agency.

(2) Has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee’s official duty.

Acts 1979, No. 443, §1, eff. April 1, 1980; Acts 1983, No. 403, §1; Acts 1987, No. 730, §1.