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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> . oF�.ou ��sy_ DEPARTMENT,OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> Q? <br /> 11 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> • cls 14"`�,, ' P. O. BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> L o4,ineM ,,. (225)219-5600 <br /> `"="P0, FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethicsstatela.us <br /> May 29, 2012 <br /> David E. Peralta <br /> St. Bernard Parish President <br /> 8201 West Jedge Perez Drive <br /> Chalmette, LA 70043 <br /> RE: Ethics Docket No. 2012-460 <br /> Dear Mr. Peralta, <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics at its May 18,2012 meeting,considered your request for an advisory <br /> opinion regarding the continued employment of Sharon Schafer as a paralegal for St.Bernard Parish <br /> Indigent Defender's office will violate the Code of Ethics if you and Ms. Schafer marry. You state <br /> that you have been President of St. Bernard Parish since January 10, 2012. Sharon Schafer has <br /> served as a paralegal for St. Bernard Parish in the Indigent Defenders Office since June 11, 2007. <br /> Upon taking office as the Parish President, you directed all supervision of Ms. Schafer to Tom <br /> Gernhauser, the head of the Indigent Defender Board. You also directed all administrative <br /> supervision of Ms. Schafer to the Chief Administrative officer,Jerry Graves. You and Ms. Schafer <br /> were married in March of 2012. <br /> The Board concluded and instructed me to inform you that the Code of Governmental Ethics will <br /> not prohibit Ms. Schafer from continuing her employment with St.Bernard Parish after her marriage <br /> to you. Section 1119 prohibits the immediate family member of an agency head from being <br /> employed in that agency. However, an exception to that prohibition is found in Section 1119C(2) <br /> which allows a public employee, having served for more than one year, to continue in that <br /> employment when a member of the immediate family becomes the head of the agency. Since Ms. <br /> Schafer has been employed with St. Bernard Parish for more than a year prior to becoming your <br /> spouse, Section 1119 of the Code will not prohibit her continued employment with the Parish after <br /> your marriage.Additionally,the Board advises that Section 1112 of the Code will prohibit you from <br /> participating in any transactions in your spouse may have a substantial economic interest. <br /> This advisory opinion is based solely on the facts as set forth herein. Changes to the facts as <br /> presented may result in a different application of the provisions of the Code of Ethics. The Board <br /> issues no opinion as to past conduct or laws other than the Code of Governmental Ethics. If you <br /> have any questions, please contact me at(225)219-5600 or(800) 842-6630. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> ii <br /> OUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> otrAni,,,fr„ P. 1:-. - _______-/ <br /> Aneatra P. Boykin <br /> For the Board 4N EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />