New Orleans, La. –
“Alcohol was not purchased?”
” Absolutely not.”
It was a simple question, and a questionable answer, from a former public official who gives himself a gold star for his oversight of public funds.
“It’s like my badge of honor,” said Lucien Gunter.
Gunter spent seven years running the economic development arm of Jefferson Parish. He retired as executive director of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission at the end of last year.
“One of the things I’m proudest of is how prudent I have been with the use of JEDCO funds,” Gunter told us.
Yes, Gunter says, he’d put his credit card charges up against anyone else.
“I would match what we spend at JEDCO with any other company or any government entity,” Gunter said. “And if we’re not far, far below that, I would be shocked.”
So, according to Gunter, that would mean he charged less than the mayor of New Orleans.
“If I’ve used it more than three or four time, I’d be surprised,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu told us in a previous interview.
Gunter sometimes charged that to taxpayers in one week, like in late July 2009. He charged a July 27 lunch at Andrea’s, and went there the next day for another lunch. The next day, July 29, he had lunch at Crescent City Steaks. And the next day, yet another lunch at Fausto’s — for the last two, he did not submit an itemized receipt.
We reviewed four years worth of charges and found many questionable ones by the former executive director.
When Gunter needed to meet with his staff to discuss a shortfall in collections from the board and employees, he took them to Ralph’s on the Park and spent $112 — public dollars.
He took a field trip with staff to Avondale; afterwards, he stopped at the TPC golf course and had lunch for $78.
He spent public money to discuss the feasibility of a board retreat, and to pay for a $104 meal, eaten while discussing a strategic plan.
And the list goes on: http://www.fox8live.com/
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