Ethics Board member quits, to seek office
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Lake Charles lawyer Clayton Davis resigned from the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
Davis’ departure is the first on the 11-member board since new laws pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and his legislative allies took away major duties from the board.
The board polices state conflict of interest, nepotism, and campaign finance, lobbyist and other disclosure laws.
On Friday, Davis said the demands of his law practice and an upcoming bid for a state district judge seat would not allow him to spend the necessary time to give his best efforts to Ethics Board work.
Davis said he particularly liked the judicial function the board serves.
It conducts public hearings and determines whether public servants have run afoul of ethics rules.
That judicial role has “been taken away from us,” Davis said. “That disappoints me.”
A new law passed during the February special session makes the board an investigatory body that brings charges of alleged law violations ethics, campaign finance with its staff acting as prosecutors. The judicial function transfers to administrative law judges on Aug. 15 under the new law.
House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, and others who pushed the new law said the Ethics Board should not serve as the investigator, prosecutor and judge of cases.
They complained about violation of the “due process rights” of the accused.
Davis said an ethics investigation led to charges against Tucker, and after a public hearing at which more information came to light, the board found no violation. “The board can act as prosecutor and judge and not be tainted,” he said.
The Tucker case involved allegations he improperly received housing tax credits through a hurricane recovery program.
Davis was one of two Ethics Board members elected by the Louisiana House of Representatives.
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