Council members say they never use texts to solicit votes during meetings

Parish president asks attorney general for opinion on matter

The Louisiana attorney general’s office recently ruled that it is against the law for St. Charles Parish Council members to text each other instructions on how to vote during public meetings, despite the fact that there is no evidence of any council member ever doing so.

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre asked for the opinion after he says residents questioned the use of phones and other electronic devices by council members during their bi-monthly public meetings.

“The request for the opinion was to follow up on a few inquiries we received from members of the public regarding use of electronic devices by council members during meetings,” parish spokeswoman Renee Simpson said. “We wanted to have the attorney general’s office clarify the intent of the open meetings law with regard to electronic devices.”

Simpson added the administration does not have any evidence that council members have used text messages to sway votes during meetings.

According to the attorney general’s ruling, it is improper for members of a public body to use electronic devices during a public meeting for the express purpose of gathering votes from fellow council members.

“If one council member is able to sway other council members towards a particular vote during a public meeting, the public should have the benefit of observing how any other public officials were convinced and who initiated the effort to pass or defeat a particular measure,” the ruling states.

However, using electronic technology for other purposes during council meetings does not violate the open meetings law, the ruling went on to say.

Councilman Larry Cochran was surprised when he discovered that St. Pierre had asked the attorney general’s office for a ruling on the matter.

“I don’t know what he is trying to get at. I can assure you of this, I have never solicited votes through text,” Cochran said. “If I want to ask for someone’s vote on a matter, I will do it face to face.”

Councilman Jarvis Lewis said he has never had a council member text him to vote a certain way during a public meeting.

He believes that council members should be allowed to have their cell phones on them during a meeting, though he said texting during proceedings violates the public’s trust.

“Council members have children and spouses, and in case of emergencies they need to be reached,” he said.

Cochran also doesn’t think council members have disrupted meetings by using their cell phones.

“You’re so into the meeting that you don’t have time to use your phone,” he said. “In front of you you have the ordinance that is being discussed and the agenda to do research. I don’t see cell phone use as a problem.”