Walter Pierce

Tramel likely to get green light from ethics board

by Walter Pierce

Tony Tramel, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s director of traffic and transportation, is set to get clearance from the state Board of Ethics to serve as a compensated expert in an expropriation case in New Iberia. Tramel had requested an advisory opinion from the board because his service would be on behalf of the state Department of Transportation and Development and Tramel is responsible for administering two contracts between LCG and DOE in his capacity as transportation director.

In an undated draft letter posted on the Ethics Administration Web site which, barring a reversal in its decision, will be sent to Tramel following the board’s Nov. 20 meeting, board member Aneatra P. Boykin writes, “The Board instructed me to inform you, that the Code of Governmental Ethics would not prohibit your service as an expert in an expropriation case in the City of New lberia.”

Also at the Nov. 20 Board of Ethics meeting, board members will consider a recommendation that an ethic charge against former state Senate District 24 candidate Patricia Cravins be dismissed. Cravins was accused of failing to file a personal financial disclosure form within 10 days of qualifying for the April 4, 2009 election. She has since filed the form.