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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF,L°U1s, DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> . oc. (225)219-5600 <br /> '•»o»•" FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.Ia.gov <br /> March 7, 2022 <br /> Mrs. Tracy Wells <br /> 610 Mooney Ave. <br /> Hammond, LA 70403 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-041 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mrs. Wells: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"), at its March 4, 2022 meeting, considered your request <br /> for an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") would <br /> prohibit you from qualifying as a candidate in the Mayor's race for the City of Hammond while <br /> your spouse, Devon Wells, serves as a Hammond City Councilman. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You stated that your husband, Devon Wells, currently serves as a Councilman for the City of <br /> Hammond. Councilman Wells intends to seek re-election to his position in the future. You would <br /> like to run for election as Mayor for the City of Hammond. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:11121)(1) states that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the <br /> governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any member of his immediate family has <br /> a substantial economic interest. <br /> La. R:S. 42:1120 provides that if an elected official, in the discharge of a duty or responsibility of <br /> his office or position, would be required to vote on a matter which would be a violation of R.S. <br /> 42:1112,he shall recuse himself from voting. An elected official who recuses himself from voting <br /> pursuant to this Section shall not be prohibited from participating in discussion and debate <br /> concerning the matter, provided that he makes the disclosure of his conflict or potential conflict a <br /> part of the record of his agency prior to his participation in the discussion and debate and prior to <br /> the vote that is the subject of discussion or debate. <br /> CONCLUSION <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2022-041) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />