Another New Orleans Scandal and the Conflict of Interest Behind It

Today's guilty plea by New Orleans' City Council vice president, Oliver Thomas, is on its face about the acceptance of a bribe. But behind that bribe is a serious conflict of interest.

Not only was Thomas the council vice president and longest-serving council member, but he was also a member of the board of the French Market Corporation, a city agency that owns and manages buildings in the French Quarter. The bribe was from someone who wanted to keep his parking lot contract with the French Market Corporation.

Why would a legislative official be placed by a mayor in a position where he helps to manage property and hand out contracts? And why would a legislative official accept such a position?

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Thomas publicly apologized today for accepting 'an inappropriate gift ... intending to influence me.' But he did not apologize for accepting the position that led to the offer of the inappropriate gift. The crime was wrong, but the conflict of interest was apparently okay.

This is the perfect situation to explain to people the difference between unethical behavior and criminal behavior, and how one often leads to the other. The failure of the mayor and the council to recognize the conflict of interest, and deal with it responsibly, led directly to the crime.

It's sad that Thomas presented himself as a reformer, intolerant to unethical behavior and insistent on public accountability. This made the news even more painful for people in New Orleans.

It should also be noted that the big concern locally is that this scandal will further undermine federal grants to New Orleans. Unethical behavior can have serious consequences, as Louisiana is learning again and again. But is anyone listening?

For more on this, see the following articles: New Orleans Times-Picayune August 12 and August 13 articles, and Associated Press.