Because of our limited staff (one, plus a few occasional contributors), we often fall behind in our efforts to keep up with the news of our misbehaving public officials. We try to keep up, but these guys are pretty slick and very resourceful in finding new ways to siphon off funds, whether they be state funds or contributions from campaign supporters.
So, today, we will highlight a couple of politicos who are very tight: Bobby Jindal and his director of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC), Troy Hebert (whose wife just happens to be the Jindal children’s pediatrician, we’re told).
We have an update on the status of Frederick Tombar III, who, like Hebert was appointed to a high-level position in the Jindal administration only to harass himself out of a job.
Tombar, it seems, has landed on his feet after leaving his $260,000 a year job as director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation because of some sexually explicit emails he sent to two female employees—one, a contract employee and the other an actual employee of the agency.
Both women attempted to put off Tombar’s advances because of fear of losing their jobs but eventually each filed complaints and Tombar left before he could be interviewed during an investigation by Ron Jackson, Human Resources Director for the Division of Administration.
Not to worry. We’re told by sources that Tombar, of New Orleans, had a soft landing at Cornerstone Government Affairs consulting company where he will work alongside two former state Commissioners of Administration, Mark Drennan and Paul Rainwater. http://www.cgagroup.com/index.html
http://www.cgagroup.com/team/RainwaterPaul.html
http://www.cgagroup.com/team/mark_drennen.html
Efforts to reach both Drennan and Rainwater for comment were unsuccessful.
It’s not known what Tombar’s salary at Cornerstone will be, but we are willing to bet it doesn’t approach the quarter-million a year he was making as a Jindal appointee.
That other appointee mentioned earlier, Troy Hebert, of whom much has been written here, little of it good, recently sent a bill to former ATC agent Howard Caviness of West Monroe who now serves as Grambling State University chief of police. Well, actually, the bill was not from Hebert, but from the agency under which he serves, the Department of Revenue (LDR).
The invoice, for all of $123.59 is for an alleged overpayment to Caviness in Dec. of 2012, according to the letter dated April 29 which is stamped “2nd notice.” Supposedly, the $123.59, when collected, will go to help patch over Jindal’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. 
Attached to the letter is a time sheet for the two-week time period of Nov. 26—Dec. 9, 2012, with no explanation other than a hand-scrawled, “will leave a balance owed.” 
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE)
Caviness, contacted by LouisianaVoice, feels the action is in retaliation for his having testified on behalf of another former agent, Brett Tingle, who Hebert fired while Tingle was recovering from a heart attack.
Reprisals against a state employee by officials in the Jindal administration? Surely not!
But that would fit the modus operandi of Hebert and would give credence to a third former agent who revealed she was ordered to conduct an investigation of LouisianaVoice publisher Tom Aswell (that would be me). That former agent admitted that she did indeed follow through on the investigation but found me “rather boring.” We’ll take boring any day.
But we did our own nosing around and found that Hebert played pretty fast and loose with campaign donors’ money while he was still a state senator—and even after he left office to take over operations at ATC after Jindal did a number on former ATC Director Murphy Painter.
At the top of the list, as with the case of so many office holders, was his $12,165 expenditure for the purchase of what seems to be the most sought-after perk of all state politicians: LSU football tickets—$4,930 of that well after he left the House of Representatives in 2010 to become head of ATC. It’s somewhat difficult to see how whose expenditures, especially the $4,930 spent after he left office, could be justified as being “related to the holding of public office,” as state campaign expense laws clearly dictate. related to a campaign personal use cannot use campaign funds for personal use
But, as they say in those cheesy TV commercials, “Wait! There’s more!”
Our boy Troy also shelled out the following amounts for other seeming unrelated purposes:
- Nov. 11, 2014: All State Sugar Bowl tickets, $590 (again, quite a stretch in tying this to holding public office); SUGAR BOWL
- April 22, 2009: Sullivan’s Restaurant, Baton Rouge, $2,323.10 for a fundraiser; RESTAURANTS
- April 1, 2010: Delta Airlines, $691.80 (no explanation of any destination, but his House district was pretty small and probably didn’t require air travel to get around Iberia Parish; TRAVEL
- April 1, 2010: Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C., $1,505.70. Ah! There’s his destination for that Delta flight. But what was he running for in Washington? HOTELS
- May 10, 2011: Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans, $500. About those two hotel bills: state regulations limit hotel rooms to a mere $120 per night. Perhaps someone should sent Hebert a bill for the difference. Oh, wait. The rooms were paid out of campaign funds, not the state treasury. So that makes it okay, we guess. travelguide
Still, $15,452 in campaign expenditures which somehow just don’t pass the smell test for legitimate campaign expenditures, especially $5,520 of which was spent after he left office.
And then there’s Jindal.
Since 2009, a year after he first took office, he has racked up an eye-popping expenditure of $169,597 in hotel room costs alone. TRAVEL
Even more revealing, all but $30,000 of that ($139,660) has been since his re-election in October of 2011, evidence that he has spent precious little time in Louisiana performing the “job he always wanted,” and the job to which he was elected.
Jindal also spent more than $185,000 in campaign money since 2003 on air travel, his campaign expense records show. Because his travel expenses were about equally divided between pre- and post-re-election in 2011, it would indicate that much of his lodging was provided by organizations to whom he was speaking.
By running as an “undeclared” candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, he was able to make free use of campaign funds he reaped while running for and serving as governor. That would explain why he is so cagey about his non-candidacy candidacy: the rules change and federal regulations kick in once he is a declared candidate. His self-serving claim to be “praying for guidance” over his decision has little or nothing to do with it; it’s all about the way he can spend the money.
Tom, it seems that if you’d spend half your time publishing the real truth rather than the “one-sided” truth that you dig up from disgruntled state employees like yourself (perhaps your own personal story as to the real reasons behind your departure from employment with the state would be a good starting point… Yep, I know them) then your stories may would actually get picked up by mainstream media and you wouldn’t have to constantly beg your fellow disgruntled for donations to keep up your sorry excuse of “news worthy journalism.” You may also be able to hire someone to proof read your posts and do real factual background checks on the information you publish… As for Jindal, that ship has nearly sailed so I hope that you and your devoted are keeping close tabs on all gubernatorial candidates so that you will be able to continue your crusade of “jaded civil servants” in January. As for your obsessive disdain for Troy Hebert (by the way, have you ever even spoken to him??) I think a quick Wikipedia search as well as a quick search of the civil service and state court databases will serve you well in getting your story straight… Based on my quick search, I see that Hebert left the legislature as a Senator, not a representative. I also find it entertaining that you think that the Department of Revenue would send a bill to an ATC employee that left over a year ago (based on the docs you attached) for $123.59 in an effort to fill a $1.6 billion deficit… Stretching for a story much… Best is that you top that off with allegations that this big fat bill (deficit filling worthy) is in retribution for testimony on behalf of another former ATC employee that I cannot seem to find anywhere in any civil service or other court records of.. . I’d sincerely appreciate if you’d share with your readers (including myself) a copy of this alleged testimony provided by Mr. Caviness in support of Mr. Tingle… I’d also appreciate if you’d post a copy of the cases that you’ve previously alleged that Hebert has lost against former employees as I can’t seem to locate any of them in the official records either. (Perhaps this is another big conspiracy???). The only decisions that I have been able to locate in the official records, including 2 supreme court records, are in favor of Hebert… I’d be happy to support your “cause” upon receipt of proof that your allegations are anything more than angry rambling
The reason for my departure was because I had initiated this blog in response to a handful of bills that were filed to abolish Civil Service. Even after those bills were defeated, I continued writing the blog because my agency, the Office of Risk Management, was being privatized. While I was eligible for retirement, many of my co-workers were not, so I kept writing. Eventually, I was called in and placed on paid leave “pending an investigation.” I asked, “Investigation of what?” and ORM Director Bud Thompson replied (and this is a direct quote): “Lobbying legislators.”
I was already wanting to retire from a job I hated and at which I readily admit I was not good at, so I simply went upstairs and started my retirement since the outcome of the “investigation” was a foregone conclusion.
As for using the $123.59 bill to fill the $1.6 billion deficit, you obviously have a problem recognizing parody.
If you look at the top of this blog you will see a white box with the term “Search” next to it. You could, if you so chose, search the blog yourself. But Tom makes it easier because he even has a tab labeled Archives. You can search there also.
Oh and btw, I have never worked for the state of Louisiana. I am just disgusted with lil booby as guv. Yes, his time as guv is short, but he can still do a helluva lot of damage to this state along with his minions.
Fredster, as a matter of fact, I did search that archive that Tom “has made so simple” as you suggested. Only problem is that all I found was more unsubstantiated allegations just like the ones posted in this current blog. Perhaps you or Tom can just make this easier for me and all the other readers (since I’m certain that Tom has done his due diligence in reporting and wouldn’t have made such strong allegations without firm proof) and copy the links to the decisions against Hebert for us. If not, maybe I will spend some time next week seeking those decisions and go ahead and post them for everyone when I obtain them so that we can make sure the on-going bashing is warranted..
In my opinion, Tom clearly confirmed my suspicion of his modus operandi when: (1) you pointed out in this blog that a campaign expenditure that Tom alleged to be an abuse may have actually been legit and Tom responded: “but I wasn’t going to help him” and (2) when Tom took my bait hook, line and sinker by sharing his own personal story of being a disgruntled state worker… To be clear, I don’t know Tom at all, nor do I know anything about his current or past employment history – Ive just developed a strong sense from quietly observing the ethos, pathos and logos of his post that there was more to the story… And, as Paul Harvey said “and now you know the rest of the story.” What I find most ironic about Tom’s story is the fact that he gave up his job in crusade for protecting civil service when one of the fundamental foundations of civil service is that public employees can’t freely speak their minds or lobby, but it seems that’s exactly what he wanted/continues to do – from that angle, it seems to me that reforming civil service should be his objective not his aversion…
Having worked in the private sector all my life, I sure as heck don’t understand the sense of entitlement and the deeply embedded culture frequently displayed by state employees of a strong desire to push beauracratic red tape, slow down free-enterprise and do everything in their power to do as little work as possible under the shield of “job security” (they probably read and post on this and similar blogs on the taxpayer dollar and equipment – Tom, that may be a good records request). Fredster, since you are also from the private sector, I’d love to hear from you about your last experience with a state office to get a permit, register or pay fees! I can tell you from my personal experience of being a business owner of a small family business in this state that dealing with these “amazing state employees” (as Tom would leave you to believe) is often a nightmare (don’t get me wrong, there have been a few great ones, but as we all know, stereotypes are created for a reason). Nevertheless, the service and responsiveness that me and my staff have received from ATC under Hebert’s leadership is a breath of fresh air! Thus my lack of understanding for the incesent hatered towards this man on this blog..
As to Tom’s allegation that I am Hebert – WRONG – and just another example of your consistent posting of unfounded allegations (I presume that in your mind, anyone that disagrees with you and your jaded views must be the person you are writing about or one of “their minions,” but I don’t blame you for wondering how “other thinking” people could actually take the time to read your blog – it’s simple entertainment.. Just like reading any other tabloid).
To clarify for everyone, I am 100% most certainly not Troy Hebert. I’m also not Jindal, nore am I any of the other people that are frequently bashed on this page.. I AM a hardworking taxpayer and I do work for myself in a small family business (as previously stated). I am ready and happy to share my name as soon as all of the bitter allegation makers on this page do. Also, as I previously stated, I will donate to Tom’s campaign as soon as he provides some firm proof on his allegations rather than one-sided accounts from state employees or his own interpretation of documents that he receives… However, please be aware Tom, that when I do donate, I will consider you to be working for me and I will be requesting a campaign expenditure report to make sure that my donation is being utilized properly, which would be clearly warranted considering your last campaign was to write a book before the end of the Jindal reign (yet to be seen or even announced) and your current campaign is pay for legal costs. I strongly feel that, as a potential contributor, I am entitled to know exactly where the money is going and to be provided with detailed expenditure break downs.
I hope that you all find peace and another purpose soon because science is very clear that waking around with annimosity, jealousy, fear, etc are very harmful to the body… I can only imagine the effect of actively searching for, fabricating and being all consumed by the negative must have one…
Can’t wait to see what the next “guv and his minions” have in store.
I’m thinking that Tom should run (or maybe you, Fredster) since you all seem to have all the answers! Good luck! I will pray for you and hope that you can make all of the people like yourself happy.
I stand corrected. Lil troy could not write a response with so many words spelled correctly.
We spoke, Troy, don’t you remember? I came to your office, Troy, to review public records and you came into the room and we shook hands. You may not remember because I did not stand up and chirp “Good morning, Commissioner.” Instead, I remained seated. Remember, Troy?
Given all of your other post about your hardships with getting public records, I find it interesting to know that Hebert actually came and shook your hand, which would also suggest to me that his office made the records you requested available to you. Is that accurate Tom? Doesn’t seem to me that a man trying to hide would produce records and then come personally talk to you? Did you ask him any questions about your allegations at that time? This really seams to further my expression of the quality service I’ve received from that office even though I’ve never received a personal handshake from the head..
Another piece of hypocrisy about this page… Comments have to be approved by the self anointed profit of “one-sided truth” before they are posted… No wonder you’ve succumbed to begging from money from your blinded following… Perhaps I will start a blog about that…
Actually, I’m on record on several occasions as encouraging all comments, pro or con—even yours.
As for comments requiring approval, that’s common practice to screen obscene and libelous comments (and, by the way, a built-in feature of the web page over which I have no control). If you’re serious about starting a blog, you should know that.
“profit” – Is that a Freudian slip or what? Passing off Tom and his regular contributors as a bunch of disgruntled former state employees is an insult to them. It implies they all have personal axes to grind and that is clearly not the case (I can assure you I don’t).
Tom, noticed a typo on the hotel info. You have him at the Hilton in DC and at the Monteleone in New Orleans on the same day. And about the DC Hilton thing, could that have been for the congressional Mardi Gras shindig? Just a thought.
I’m sure it was the Mardi Gras, but I wasn’t going to help him.
Welp…can’t blame you there.
Where do I start. Why didn’t you just sign your name lil troy! I guess you just couldn’t help yourself when the Adderall kicked in last night. Of course you have your usual retort, everyone that disagrees with you or stands up to you is a disgruntled state employee. Bless your little heart I bet it took you forever to type that response with your flip phone! You lil troy are just a political used car hack that has benefited from a life of taking advantage of the taxpayers of this state. I could go on but you know the song and dance. “I’m getting rid of these lazy state employees that are scared of the w word”. “I increased fines since I’ve been the commissiona”. “I bought us a synthetic drug dog for $15,000.00 to help with the war against drugs”. There is no such thing as a synthetic drug dog! I, I, I, I!!!!! “I have not fired any African Americans since I been the commissiona”. (Alex Brown, Bennie Walters, Shawnery Jones, Michelle Gordon) Those names ring a bell? It’s all been the lil troy show. You built a house on state time. I’m sure you remember Jose’ Alverez bringing you documents to sign so you didn’t have to go to the office. Using ATC’s double axel trailers to haul lumber for that house. Remember when you went on vacation out of the country and when revenue called you out on it, you had an employee lie for you and said that it was the employee’s fault. Remember when LDR would not “play ball” with you in getting rid of employees without cause and one of your “buddies” from civil service told you you could move those employees around the state if they possessed certain talents. You moved them and then started writing them up or they just quit because of being away from their families all week. What was it you used to love to say? “Everytime I write somebody up or demote someone, it don’t cost me nothing cause the state pays my attorney fees but it sure cost them (employees) money.” The days for honoring youself little man will come to an end and your sins will catch up to you. Like I said, I could go on and on earthpapa (lil troy) but I’ll save it for another time.
Dedicated, i find it amusing that you think I’m Hebert because there is no amount of money that could get me to do that job. However, you clearly have an ax to grind and you sure do seem to have a lot of “insider” information.. So much so that I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that you were actually one of the employees contributing one-sided info to this post… Are you Caviness? Are you tingle? Are you the employee that allegedly “investigated” Tom? Here’s a deal – I will publish my name when you publish yours, what do you think about that? I’m fairly certain that you’ve never heard of me, but the guessing game is quite intriguing isn’t it????
It is Earthpappa! It is entertaining and I’m glad to see you are using a dictionary since your first post!
Ok I give! My name is Fred Hoyt.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, you know alot!!!!! Almost, as much as I do and EVERYTHING that you have stated is FACTUAL!!!!!!
http://www.iberianet.com/forum/troy-hebert-s-abuse-of-office/article_dd1e051d-b0e6-55cb-be44-8f2971eac71e.html?mode=jqm
Hey, Fred!!!!! 👋
Lil troy did you get someone to write that response for you?
Dedicated, I’m not “lil” anything and I don’t need anyone to write anything for me as I’m quite capable of writing for myself. The only thing “lil” right now seems to be you and you’re vomit forthe mouth… It’s very telling to see your responses to my questions of the undocumented truth that you don’t like. Every post that you make confirms my belief that you are a disgruntled employee – question is, what’s your story (Tom shared his). Hopefully you can find a “lil” rest from your apparent all consuming obsession and enjoy some sunlight this weekend – I hear that it’s good for the heart – so much aggression is definitely not!
Thanks for the blog Tom! I’ve really enjoyed getting a rise out of Fredster and dedicated today.. I wish I would’ve chimed in sooner, but I will definitely be sure to be “dedicated” to posting more in the future – at least I will do so knowing what I’m dedicated to.. So everyone is clear on this – I’m going to be dedicated to stirring up angry state employees and calling out bs as I see it. Mr./Ms. “Lil” Dedicated, what exactly is it that you are dedicated to besides your obvisious infatuation with Troy Hebert.. Forgive my ignorance, but I just can’t figure you out.
Please continue Earthpappa! It’s very entertaining!
Nah, you didn’t get a rise out of me. And it may have been somewhere else but I’m more than certain I’ve seen some links to Hebert’s questionable campaign fund spending. And, fwiw, I don’t consider spending $1500 for rooms at the DC Hilton for the DC Mardi Gras a legitimate use of the money donated to him. What was he campaigning for in DC?
Earthpapa:
I a little confused at your claim that Tom ‘took your bait’ in explaining his job history. I don’t think that’s ever been a secret and he has written about that before, so don’t claim credit for an admission. As for Tom needing a proofreader: he certainly doesn’t need to hire you for the job. Your posts are loaded with misspellings and incorrect grammar. And I believe Tom has, in fact, suggested budget solutions on numerous occasions. One of the most mentioned suggestions I recall him advocating was to do away with all the corporate tax breaks which Gov. Jindal has finally admitted are nothing more than “corporate welfare.” That would be a solution. So would Medicaid expansion, accepting the Broadband grant that the governor turned down. Likewise the high speed rail connection between Baton Rouge and New Orleans–another grant the governor refused. Ditto the cigarette tax renewal vetoed by the governor. Finally, yes, there are cases in which Tom relies on sources for information but where possible, it’s obvious that he cites existing records for his information and records such as campaign expenditures are difficult to refute.
Just for the record, “Earthpapa” has no connection to earthmother. I have no idea who this person is. Or why he uses an alias similar to the one I have used since 2000 (as my first email address). My SO uses a completely different alias.
Don’t know where this Earthpapa came from, but he’s a free agent. earthmother is old and has no relatives in the blogosphere. Get out with your bad uppercase self – LOL.
P.S. Earthpapa and earthmother are clearly at opposite ends of the political spectrum. We would not have good conversation at the breakfast table.
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