Chinese, according to his official bio. Also a Democrat, but a conservative one.
http://www.jpso.com/lee.htm
I always thought he was Korean. I stand corrected.
Several years ago there was an FR article on Sheriff Lee and his program to hunt down and kill the Nutria on the levees in his parish. He came across as a no-nonsense type of guy ... someone who is more concerned with getting the job done than with being "correct and proper".