New Orleans - The Attorney General's Office has officially signed on as special counsel for the Jefferson Parish council investigation into Tim Whitmer. And council members have a few more facts to consider as they prepare for next month's hearings.
Whitmer engaged in several activities that at least on the surface look like conflicts of interest.
"The additional revelations indicate that it's past time for Mr. Whitmer to one, resign immediately or two for Mr. Broussard to terminate Mr. Whitmer," says parish council member John Young.
The Metropolitan Crime Commission released the internal insurance document that sparked the scandal surrounding the parish CAO.
The document shows a secret fee splitting deal on a West Jeff Medical Center employee insurance contract.
Now we know Whitmer sold insurance to subordinates, did personal business on parish time, sits on the board that recommends insurance contractors to the parish council and is a registered agent for at least three insurance companies that do business with the parish.
"Another unacceptable development. Another reason why he should be terminated yesterday," says Young.
Whitmer insists he has no oversight of the hospital, so ethically he did nothing wrong, but that contradicts the parish charter.
Rafael Goyeneche says the secret deal certainly presents the appearance of wrong-doing.
"That's something that's so fundamental, so elementary to a 30-year public servant that it defies logic that he would be ignorant of that requirement."
Goyeneche also takes issue with the recent disclosure from Aaron Broussard that he solicited business for the company Whitmer owns with former parish president Tim Coulon.
Broussard originally called his work "legal services" but now says he also tried to find clients for Whitmer.
The parish president says his referral work did not result in any business for Lagniappe Industries but Goyeneche says that doesn't matter.
"You cannot separate that fact that Aaron Broussard is the current parish president and whether it is an individual or a business firm that is attempting to do business with the parish or has a contract with the parish there is going to be the appearance that there was some type of pressure being applied," says Goyeneche.
On Friday, Fox 8 talked to parish contractor Murray White who says he has personal insurance with Lagniappe Industries.
"That's one of the issues I asked for on November 16th. What government contracts do you have and what contracts to you have with government contractors or vendors," says Young.
Another parish contractor says Broussard approached him but that he did not buy insurance from Whitmer.
Broussard recused himself from the parish investigation into Whitmer, but refuses to relinquish his disciplinary powers.
"Because it's a chartered obligation that I have in regards to terminations, in regards to inquiries and investigations. you have the Parish Attorney's Office as an option, the council is there as an option, in recusing myself there are other options that are there, but in regards to termination that's a chartered responsibility that goes to the parish president," Broussard said during a weekend interview with Fox 8 reporter Val Bracy.
The council may end up deciding Whitmer's fate anyway. According to young, findings from the council investigation launched last week could result in an override of Broussard's decision.
Whitmer recused himself from the parish's Insurance Advisory Board Friday night at Broussard's request.
