By: Allen Johnson

Former prosecutor Karen Herman — and her husband — received a “green light” from the Louisiana Board of Ethics in regard to her campaign for judge of New Orleans Criminal District Court. In response to a request from Stephen J. Herman, the Ethics Board last week ruled that a candidate’s personal funds are not subject to state contribution limits. “Further, a candidate’s community property is the candidate’s personal funds and is therefore not subject to the contribution limits,” board attorney Alesia Ardoin wrote in an April 15 letter. Stephen Herman, a lawyer with Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar LLP, also asked the board if there are any fundraising restrictions for the spouses of judicial candidates. Judges and candidates for judge cannot personally solicit campaign contributions. The board replied that neither the state Code of Ethics nor the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act addresses the propriety of spousal solicitation of campaign funds. The board declined to opine on the Code of Judicial Conduct. Karen Herman, founder of Court Watch NOLA, a citizens’ court-monitoring program, is running for the Section “I” seat being vacated by retiring Judge Raymond Bigelow. The primary is Oct. 4.

By: Allen Johnson 

Our periodic search of the state treasurer’s “unclaimed property” records has turned up some good news for state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, among other politicos. We found a total of $1,988 in checks for Donelon, including $600 owed his 1980 campaign for Congress (which he lost to Democrat Billy Tauzin) and $438 for Donelon’s unsuccessful 1998 campaign for the U.S. Senate against then-incumbent John Breaux. Elsewhere, embattled former state Sen. Charles D. Jones of Monroe can claim a $500 check that a pharmaceutical company made out to him in 2001. Jones faces federal criminal income tax evasion charges. Former state Sen. Louis Lambert of Prairieville can claim a $500 check that is more than 10 years old — from Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. Former Gov. Dave Treen of Mandeville can pick up a $47 utility deposit from his unsuccessful 1999 run for Congress, and now that he has escaped having to testify in the trial of the “D.C. Madam,” scandalized U.S. Sen. David Vitter may finally pick up that $250 campaign contribution from Pfizer Inc. — the maker of Viagra. 

By: Allen Johnson

It’s no secret that Jim Bernazzani, the hard-charging state head of the FBI, is pondering life after a long career of pursuing foreign terrorists and corrupt politicians. The mandatory retirement age for FBI agents is 57. Bernazzani, 52, has been entertaining job offers both inside and outside New Orleans, sources say. He recently turned down a top counter-terrorism job with the bureau in Washington, telling a recent meeting of the local FBI Citizens Academy that he is dedicated to the rebuilding of New Orleans. Our sources say some heavy hitters (read: financial backers) with conservative leanings want the tough-talking Bernazzani to consider running for mayor of New Orleans in 2010. Bernazzani isn’t talking about that idea, and federal law bars government employees from politicking. However, the prospect of a candidacy has “taken on a life of its own,” says a friend of the G-man. A native of Massachusetts, Bernazzani will find that the transition from crusading cop to elective office has been tried by many here, but achieved by few. Former NOPD Chief Richard Pennington lost the 2002 mayoral runoff to Ray Nagin, and former U.S. Attorney John Volz lost a 1995 run for sheriff of St. Tammany Parish. However, the late Joe Giarrusso Sr., moved from police chief to city councilman at-large and served several terms there.