Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has issued an opinion saying Gov. John Bel Edwards’ latest appointment to the Red River Waterways Commission is illegal and puts any business the board conducts in question, the Shreveport Times reports.
Landry traveled to Shreveport today to announce his opinion at the Caddo Levee District office where the regional appointment has erupted into a statewide controversy.
When asked whether he would take action against the governor, Landry said: “I’m prepared to take whatever action necessary to ensure the board is properly represented.”
Last week U.S. Sen. John Kennedy accused Edwards of conducting “vendetta” politics when he declined to appoint Carolyn Prator to the board after she was nominated by the Caddo Parish Commission, the levee district and the Red River Valley Association.
Prator is the wife of Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, who has been critical of Edwards’ justice reforms.
Edwards’ staff has accused Kennedy and Landry, both Republicans, of political posturing as they consider running against the Democratic governor next year.
Edwards’ spokesman Richard Carbo has consistently said the governor appointed retired Col. Michael Deville of Rapides Parish rather than Prator to the commission to achieve more balanced representation, allowing Caddo and Rapides to each have two board seats.
