Legislator faces ethics complaints

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 15, 2009 - Page: 1A

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The chairman of a legislative panel that oversees state ethics laws faces seven charges alleging that he violated state conflict of interest laws.

The Louisiana Board of Ethics allegations against state House and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, became public Tuesday.

“We intend to defend it,” Gallot said in a telephone interview Tuesday while vacationing with his family. “I will be able to successfully defend myself against the incredibly old charges.”

The charges involve Gallot’s legal representation of the Black and Gold Facilities Inc. in business dealings with Grambling State University and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, on which his mother serves.

Each allegation could bring maximum civil penalties of $10,000.

State law prohibits elected officials from receiving things of economic value for assisting a person in a contract or transaction with their government entity — the state in Gallot’s case — unless it is disclosed within 10 days. Two of the charges allege violations of that law.

Several lawmakers have run afoul of the reporting requirement in recent months.

The other five ethics claims against Gallot involve his interest in transactions before the board on which his mother, Mildred Gallot, sits.

Under state law, neither a member of a board or commission nor their immediate family members can be interested in a transaction under the jurisdiction of their board or commission.

Gallot said his mother was unaware he was representing the nonprofit Black and Gold Facilities Inc.

“I never appeared before the board and was not required to,” Gallot said.

Gallot said he was aware the ethics charges were coming. He said he has consulted with an attorney.

“I’d like to think I have a pretty decent understanding of the (ethics) code. Certainly, I would never have engaged in any representation or conduct in violation of the code of ethics,” said Gallot.