Ringside Politics With A Punch

Louisiana politicos, citizens and even some political observers, such as Ringside, have been quick to praise Jim Letten, who they say is doing a stand-out job.

Well, he may be putting away some politicians, but only those who are so high-profile he can't afford to ignore them and their crimes or alleged crimes.

For the most part, Letten ignores those who are less-than high profile with their alleged illegal antics.

Take Kevin Davis for instance - please. His administration is corrupt even if he isn't. Yet he is considered the darling of the Northshore GOP. Why is this when the following exists:

Davis allows his Parish Finance Director to ignore Parish laws regarding construction permits by failing to obtain a construction permit when she and her husband built a new home in July 2004. As a result of this violation of Parish code, the Finance Director and her husband brought in an unspecified amount of fill dirt without regard to the effect it would have on water runoff to her neighbors' properties or the amount of damage it might cause. Davis allowed these violations by his Finance Director despite complaints he received directly from the adjacent property owners. As a result of this illegal construction activity, the Finance Director's neighbors filed a lawsuit that was ultimately settled. That settlement forced Davis and the Parish to acknowledge illegally allowing the Finance Director to ignore Parish Permit laws and pay to the neighbors a total of $10,000 for mental pain and anguish as well as devaluation of their property values. Additionally the Parish agreed, via consent decree, to install drainage equipment such as culverts and cleanouts and dig new drainage ditches and/or improve existing drainage ditches, all at Parish expense, which to date has cost St. Tammany Parish taxpayers an unspecified amount of money, which likely numbers in the thousands of dollars or more.

All of this information and more can be found in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Finance Director's neighbors in 22nd Judicial District Court, Division E in Covington, Docket No. 2005-12825. A copy of the suit and the signed consent decree has been attached to this document.

Further, audits of St. Tammany Parish Government over the past five years have red-flag notations similar to those filed on behalf of the city of Mandeville during the Price regime. And the St. Tammany Parish Government utilizes the services of the same CPA firm used by the city of Mandeville. And it wasn't until the state Legislative Auditor's office dug more thoroughly into the city's spending habits that numerous illegal actions were discovered. One has to wonder how the Parish's spending habits would stand under such scrutiny. Those who would point to St. Tammany Parish receiving a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association would be wrong to think this is vindication. The aforesaid Association is a membership-supported, private organization. One of its members is the St. Tammany Parish Government. One can see that such an association would quickly swat down one of its members if something was amiss, wouldn't one? Don't think so. Members pay dues. Members who get a slap on the wrist or worse, quit paying dues.

Worse yet, Davis Assistant Chief Administrative Officer oversees the Parish Finance Director, who is the Asst. CAO's sister. Gee, what about nepotism doesn't Mr. Davis understand?

And yet Jim Letten thinks Davis and his government is wonderful. The State Legislative Auditor's office knows better, but does nothing about it either.

Anyone who thinks politics and political leaders in St. Tammany Parish are clean and green should know better since recent history proves otherwise. Mandeville's former mayor resigned in disgrace and Sheriff Jack Strain - whose office also has been looked at by the State Legislative Audtor - has a jail that is easier to break out of than the proverbial wet paper bag.

Come on Jeff. Quit molycoddling the GOP in Louisiana and the New Orleans area in general. You don't put up with this kind of malarkey from Democrats. Why are you and Letten giving Kevin Davis and the rest of the Louisiana GOP a pass?

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