Posted on 11/27/2005 2:36:49 PM PST by ncountylee
Governor Claims He “Had No Recollection” Now Thinks Levee Board Bidding Was Corrupt Foster Admits That He Did Nothing. (Provided by C.B. Forgotston)
On Tuesday morning, www.LouisianaWeekly.com political columnist Christopher Tidmore appeared on the statewide Moon Griffon show to discuss the dangers of the legislative failure to create a single statewide levee board out of the myriad of parish entities.
He outlined how the Orleans Parish Levee Board had consistently diverted its attentions and monies away from Levee protection and into projects including the construction of overpasses leading to a gambling boat, police departments to patrol the levees, and overstaffing.
Tidmore particularly told the tale of how Levee Board President Jim Huey had used public money to hire private investigators to follow New Orleans talkshow host Robert Namer, and Governor Mike Foster had refused to fire him.
Then, the Governor refused to support his own appointee to the board, Peggy Wilson, when the former New Orleans Councilmember began to question the awarding of the management contract for the Levee District’s billion dollars airport to its own politically connected Financial Advisor, Larry Sisung.
Foster, Tidmore claimed quoting Wilson, had allowed Senator Francis Heitmeier to kill Wilson’s confirmation in committee when the former Councilmember questioned the bidding and contracting process at the airport. Many of Heitmeier’s friends and allies had contracts with the District, and Levee Board President Huey served at his request in the Edwards, Foster, and Blanco Administrations. (Huey just resigned amidst a payment scandal.)
Listening to the program, former Governor Mike Foster called in to confront Griffon and Tidmore. In the exchange, The Louisiana Weekly columnist revealed that Peggy Wilson, Billy Nungesser, and Vincent Bruno all claim to have informed Foster of the misdoings at the board, and lost their jobs because of it. Moreover, a recently obtained letter shows that fellow board Commissioner Sister Kathleen Cacin resigned out of frustration with the Governor’s inaction. Foster denied all of this, but statements and documents recounted below conflict with his claims.
Wilson and Bruno will appear on the Moon Griffon show in the 9 AM hour on Wednesday to answer the governor’s charges live. The entire 15 minute interview with Foster will be replayed in the Baton Rouge area on KKAY 1590 AM in the 8 AM hour on Wednesday.
Here is the entire interview uncut…
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Just another corrupt politician that can't stop digging.
Sounds like a uniquely Louisiana name.
Yeah, the first time I heard the name was when I moved to New Orleans and Mary Ladreau's father, Moon was the Mayor.
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