Convicted felons can no longer acquire contracts to work for the city, after the City Council voted unanimously to override Mayor Ray Nagin’s veto on the issue last week.
Stacy Head
Led by District B Councilwoman Stacy Head, the council restricted contracts from being signed with anyone convicted of embezzlement, bribery or other financial misconduct within the past five years.
Head based the new law on the concept of a “responsible bidder” contained in the state’s bidding laws. According to a news release from Head’s office, the courts have generally held the definition of a responsible bidder to include judgments of the contractor’s character.
Head is quoted on the New Orleans City Council Web site as saying:
“I am pleased that the Council passed the ordinance unanimously to end city contracting where it has been shown that the principals of the contracting entity have engaged in public corruption. The citizens of our City should not see their tax dollars spent in such irresponsible ways.”
