Several Caddo commissioners being sued for violating open meetings laws

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- Louisiana Attorney General (AG) Liz Murrill says seven Caddo Commissioners violated Louisiana’s open meetings laws.

The commissioners named in the lawsuit are Stormy Gage-Watts, Victor Thomas, Roy Burrell, Ron Cathran, Kenneth Epperson, Gregory Young and Steffon Jones.

The complaint says that on at least three occasions, the members presented proclamations without the full body voting on them or any public input.

It all started when the members presented a proclamation welcoming Senator Bernie Sanders to Shreveport.

Murrills says the same thing happened when proclamations were presented to former Shreveport John Hussey and one honoring the 100th anniversary of the Strand Theatre.

Murrill said, “The open meetings law requires that official bodies have a public meeting, that meeting be noticed twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting so people have an opportunity to know what’s happening.”

All three proclamations were voted on by the full body after they were presented.

The AG says you can’t do that.

The attorney general is seeking attorney’s fees and fines against the seven commissioners.

We did reach out to Stormy Gage-Watts and she told us she will speak on the matter in due time.