LAFAYETTE, La (KLFY) — Back in March, Lafayette Parish School Board Member Jeremy Hidalgo requested a formal opinion from the Louisiana Board of Ethics. This is regarding his position on the school board and his business partnerships with vendors. News 10 was present during the board’s decision.

The Louisiana Board of Ethics decided to prohibit LPSS Board Member, Jeremy Hidalgo, from soliciting and receiving sponsorships from vendors seeking to partner with his local business, if they work for or provide goods and services to LPSS.

Hidalgo owns a local bar that hosts a customer appreciation night once a month where other businesses partner with him to provide free meals for attendees.

In a letter to the board, Hidalgo indicates that the businesses he partners with gain exposure as sponsors because they volunteer to cook meals and provide a limited bar tab during the events.

In that same letter, he also indicates being approached by business owners who supply goods or services to LPSS and are interested in sponsoring a meal and tab at his bar.

With a Louisiana law prohibiting public officials from accepting gifts, money, or anything of value directly or indirectly if the person is doing business with their agency, an advisory opinion was proposed to prohibit Hidalgo from receiving sponsorships from any vendor that has a relationship with LPSS. It was also recommended to adopt that proposal to which the board of ethics approved staff recommendations.

News 10 contacted LPSS and Hidalgo for comment on the board’s decision but has not heard back as of news time.

As this story develops, updates will be posted here.

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