A public records request made by FOX 8 News has prompted a parish investigation into the employment of Aaron Broussard's ex-wife.
In August of 2003, a few months before Broussard began his first term as parish president, his soon-to-be wife, who worked for him during his term on the council, transferred over to the Parish Attorney's Office.
A human resources document, signed by Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson, shows that Karen Parker was hired into the newly created position of Paralegal Supervisor at a starting salary of $48,000.
Last month, FOX 8 asked the parish for Parker-Broussard's resume and paralegal certification information.
According to a job description, the certification is a parish requirement for all paralegals.
But the parish doesn't have one on file for Parker-Broussard. We didn't get a resume either and the Human Resources department claims it has no personnel records relating to her 18 years of employment.
"The whole thing smacks of this was a position that was created for her because of her status as Aaron Broussard's then-wife," says Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
As a Paralegal Supervisor, Parker-Broussard's responsibilities would have included preparing legal documents and interviewing witnesses as well as conducting investigations and hearings.
In an interview two days before turning in his resignation, Aaron Broussard told FOX 8 he didn't know whether his ex-wife has any legal credentials, but that for the parish attorney's office position, perhaps her many years working in government were considered.
"What I'm trying to explain is when you are a government there is a high value of knowing how government works, of knowing the departments, of knowing the personnel, of knowing what the needs and demands are of those individual departments. That would be different then simply working in a law firm," said Broussard.
Wilkinson says Parker-Broussard only worked in his office for a few months and was then transferred to the parish's ID Management division. The job duties for that position include clerical work and taking pictures of new employees, but she still holds the title of Paralegal Supervisor and her now $64,000 salary still comes out of the Parish Attorney's budget.
The parish's pay plan for classified employees shows the job of ID/Security System Coordinator pays between $30,533 and 42,963 per year.
It's not clear whether that's the exact position Parker-Broussard fills, but there are no other ID Management positions listed on the personnel department document.
"How is she paid as a supervisor for the legal department, paid $64,000 a year, and works in ID Management as a picture taker," says Goyeneche.
During an interview last week with FOX 8, Wilkinson said hiring Parker-Broussard was a decision made by the Administration.
Wilkinson: "I was told that was the position she was being hired for."
Val Bracy: "So you were told she was going to work for you?
Wilkinson: "She was put in my budget, correct."
The parish says it's not unusual for an employee to be in the budget of one department while working in another but those arrangements are supposed to be temporary.
According to wilkinson, Parker-Broussard has been working in her temporary position for nearly six years.
Chief Administrative Assistant Bert Smith says Parker-Broussard cannot continue working in one department while being paid by another and that the parish is looking into whether what she makes is comparable to her job duties.
FOX 8 made a request through the parish to interview Parker-Broussrd. We're told she did not respond.
