AG Landry Issues Opinion Against LCG Council Ordinance Fix

Hours before the Lafayette City-Parish Council is to meet tonight on the topic, State Attorney General Jeff Landry issued his opinion on an LCG Council charter fix via ordinance.

“Any changes in district boundaries for purposes of the first election of council members under the amended Charter may be made only by further amendment to the Charter. Such changes cannot be made by ordinance of the governing body.”

Landry's opinion is in response to State Senator Bob Hensgens' request.

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State Attorney General Jeff Landry will issue an opinion on Lafayette's transition to a new form of government after all. Claire Taylor of the Acadiana Advocate first reported State Senator Bob Hensgens of Abbeville sent a letter to the Attorney General's office asking for guidance on how to deal with the handful of precincts left out of the amended home rule charter as voted on last fall. Hensgens' district extends into southwestern Lafayette Parish. The debate has been whether voters have to re-vote or if the precincts can be added through an ordinance by the Lafayette City-Parish Council.

Supporters of the Fix The Charter movement have opposed an Attorney General's opinion because it would be non-binding and would slow down the transition process. Last month, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin handed the power over to the Lafayette consolidated council to decide how to handle the missing precincts. His decision was that a new election wasn't legally required.