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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> �p Lopr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> 9 P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> c�NriucN°�' (225)219-5600 <br /> ..o.. FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> July 10, 2025 <br /> John Diez, Jr <br /> 42126 Highway 931 <br /> Geismar, Louisiana 70734 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2025-270 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Diez: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on July 3, 2025, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion as to whether the post-employment provisions in Code of Governmental Ethics <br /> ("Code") prohibit you, the former CAO of Ascension Parish, from being employed by the <br /> Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) within the next two years. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You retired as CAO on August 11, 2023. You have been asked by AEDC to conduct community <br /> engagement in relation to several new industrial developments on the west bank of Ascension <br /> Parish. AEDC is a 501(c)(6) non-profit focused on maximizing economic opportunity in <br /> Ascension parish. The AEDC was established in 2005 by the Ascension Parish government, the <br /> Ascension Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Gonzales. According to La. R.S. 33:9024A and <br /> B, AEDC is a private, nonprofit corporation and is prohibited from functioning as an agency of <br /> the state or any political subdivision of the state; and, its directors, officers, or employees are <br /> prohibited from functioning as and are not to be considered public employees for any purpose <br /> whatsoever. <br /> As CAO of Ascension Parish, you were responsible for directing and coordinating the <br /> administration of Ascension Parish. Your job duties included the following: <br /> 1) Supervising and managing the Directors of all departments as directed by the Parish <br /> President. <br /> 2) Communicating with Parish administration on ACUD 1 water expansion in RPMP and <br /> Hwy 3127 plans. <br /> 3) Coordinating the Communication Plan with/for elected officials, community stakeholders, <br /> and Westbank residents. <br /> 4) Utilizing Ascension Economic Development Foundation for donations/grants/ and <br /> programs in conjunction with Economic Development District Board planning and <br /> funding. <br /> 5) <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2025-270) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />