By the content of that comment from the writer calling himself Earthpapa, we figured we must have hit a nerve with our report about Troy Hebert’s “campaign” expenditures on hotels and LSU tickets after he left office.
But the fact is, an apology is in order. We said he spent $4,930 in campaign funds on LSU tickets after he left office.
On double checking our figures, we find the actual amount is $4,991.
But the lengthy comment by Earthpapa appeared to have Hebert’s footprints all over it and the strident tone of his missive indicated to us that we had scored a direct hit, or very close to it.
And while we’re not saying with any definitiveness that Hebert was the author of the comment, it was enough to send us diving back into his campaign report for other expenditures incurred after he left the Louisiana Senate in November of 2010 to become head of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC).
(As an aside, the State Ethics Board has said that if campaign funds are not to be used for the purpose of campaigning or holding office, they are to be returned to the donors on a pro rata basis. Accordingly, if 100 donors give $1,000 each and $50,000 is left over and not to be used, then theoretically, the 100 donors would receive refunds of 50 percent of their contributions, or $500 each.)
But Hebert, apparently playing by his own rules, has continued to spend campaign funds at least through last December on such things as Christmas cards, advertising, postage, office supplies, stationery, flowers, food, newspaper advertising, subscriptions, gifts, clerical salaries for his New Iberia office and, of course, those LSU tickets—all expenditures not allowed under state campaign regulations.
Specifically, the Ethics Board says, “Funds must be expended for a use related to a political campaign or the holding of a public office.” (Emphasis by the Board.) But Hebert has not held office nor has he sought political office since becoming ATC director. shall not be used for any perso may not be used for any personal use unrelated to holding of public office
In all, Hebert (aka Earthpapa?) has shelled out more than $36,300 in non-campaign-related expenditures since December of 2010, according to his own campaign finance records. TROY HEBERT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES POST-SENATE
A breakdown of expenditures, in addition to the $4,991 in LSU tickets, includes:
- $3,539 on newspaper advertising;
- $14,454 on souvenirs (logo hats and shirts) and office supplies;
- $1,785 for postage, Christmas cards and newspaper, magazine and cable subscriptions;
- $1,250 on ornaments, gifts and lunches;
- $8,500 in political contributions to other candidates (which is allowable);
- $4,500 in salaries to two clerical employees in a New Iberia office from December of 2012 (the month after he left office) through December of 2013, two years after he left office.
There was no explanation as to why the ATC director needed an office in New Iberia or why his campaign funds had to be used to pay office staff salaries.
In November and December of 2014, three years after leaving office, he spent $3,585 at Erin Oswalt Photography for Christmas cards and in December of 2010, he spent $492 with Oswalt on postcards, campaign expense reports reveal.
His campaign also purchased $1,028 in postage between December of 2010 and December of 2014—not counting the eyebrow-raising $676 in campaign funds spent in December of 2014 for Christmas card postage.
Again, it’s difficult to conceive why the director of a state agency would need to purchase more than $1,700 in postage stamps over a four-year period using campaign funds long after he left office in open violation of campaign regulations.
Perhaps Hebert Earthpapa will contact us and explain the use of campaign funds for non-campaign purposes.
Louisiana Voice 
Tom I think you sink lil troy’s battleship!
Awe, Tom, you are something else and flattery will get you everywhere (I feel that we’ve become so close in a day that I should probably start calling you Tommy Boy)! I sure do hope that my post have helped to up your tabloid ratings because a quick little review of the number of comments on your past blogs seems to indicate that interest in your stories is dwindling (yikes)! God bless your little heart (as your “dedicated” friend likes to say), I can only imagine how difficult and draining it must be for an aspiring tabloid writer to continuously fabricate and present stories that he thinks may be of interest only to find that they are not.. On that end, I think that you and I may be able to strike quite the working relationship (late hours because I actually do hold employment during the day and am not able to contribute to speculations as to my identity before 6:30pm), but I have much enjoyed our exchange today and I plan to be a frequent poster here out. I would be so honored if this little correspondence actually led to me having a meet and greet with this Hebert.. Considering your obsession with the guy and the fact that he clearly consumes the majority of yours and dedicateds mental real estate, he must be something special. However, I am still not him and I would think that any halfway decent aspiring tabloid writer would have at least ascertained that fact by now. It seems to me, by your eagerness to write a blog in my name, that the only nerve struck was yours because I can assure you that I’ve gained nothing more than excitement from reading the responses to my post and I’m just getting started my friend!
I am also so honored to know that my questions have enticed you to do a little research; these ethics laws are sure to serve you well when you toss your name into that gubernatorial hat. Along those lines.. I’ve read a lot of your gripes about government and the $1.6 B deficit presented by the real media, but I do not recall reading any of your proposals for a fix. Seeing as your are quite the emerging tabloid writer/potential gubernatorial candidate, I’d love to hear your proposal.
Dedicated, You are just too cute peaches; God bless your little heart. It is so precious that you’ve recognized my vocabulary skills. In abrogation of my modesty (because your are just too darling) I will share with you that I find the dictionary to be exceptional bathroom reading. Perhaps you and I can have tea and crumpets and I can teach you a few words because “lil” is just not proper my friend… You just sound so uneducated and mad when you post things like you have – most definitely not becoming… I think that Tom needs to give you a few lessons on ediquite dear little child. On another note, I see in a previous post that you say your name is Fred Hoyt. A quick google search tells me that there was a Mr. Hoyt who used to be a state politician. I do believe that I will find a number for him/you on Monday attempt to engage in a diplomatic conversation.. If you aren’t in fact him, which I suspect that you are not, them I’m sure that he will be very interested to read all of the illustrative past post you’ve made in his name.
With regard to the budget problem, Tom did publish a proposed solution, authored by me and based on the best information available at the time:
I found in your reply in to one of Mr. Aswell’s previous posts that you used the phrase “…the end of the Jindal reign….” Really, reign?? Is that what you think officials in a republic do when democratically elected to office? I always thought that it was a “term” in office and that the elected official “served” his constituents. Methinks your characterization speaks volumes about how you view governance in this nation and the volumes are NOT pretty.
And I do not care who you are.
@Earthpapa – Before you go and accuse others of being uneducated, LEARN TO CONJUGATE YOUR VERBS.
I sure do hope that my post have helped to up your tabloid ratings . . .
The word you were looking for is has, not have.
The plural of “post” is “posts.”
Geez, Earthpapa, are you trying to be cute or something? That is a pretty sorry, pathetic post. This is going to be a very short post, but I hope it upsets you enough for you to ask God to bless my little heart. Like I said, cute…
Ediquite??? Even as far off on the correct spelling as it is, my iPAD corrects it (etiquett). I have to wonder how up to date you are from a technology standpoint, Earthpappa. You’re not relying on a Commodore 64, are you?
Anyway, if there is a willingness for a meet and greet, I’ll be happy to videotape it and provide a link for viewership. At least that way we see who all shows up. Since Earthpappa and Troy aren’t the same person, should be no trouble to get three (including Tom), right? Ya’ll just let me know the date, time, and place, and I’m in.
Earthpapa, I just re-read your post and I have to ask: Were you drinking when you wrote it? Let’s hope so. At last that would be an excuse.
And maybe the campaign ethics committee will explain why he hasn’t been prosecuted. But I won’t hold my breath for either of those to happen any time soon.
Perhaps you could call Lee Zurick in the New Orleans media. He seems to go after corruption in state government (talk about job security!).
I wonder if it was those same campaign funds that paid for all the remodeling work in ATC’s leased office space on Essen lane that lil troy said he paid for with his own money?
Depends if 2X4s and drywall can be passed off as postage and Christmas cards.
Of course they can be passed off as postage considering they all come from wood ;).
By law, the State Ethics Board is required to investigate potential ethics violations if they are brought to the public’s attention through the various media outlets. Of course, the Ethics Board would refuse to comment on preliminary or ongoing investigations. And preliminary investigations may go on for several months before it is decided whether or not to proceed with a formal investigation. I once asked the lead attorney for the Ethics Board, “Who is responsible for investigating the Ethics Board for unethical behavior?” She replied, “We investigate ourselves!” Kathleen, please feel free to respond if that is no longer your stance as lead attorney for the Ethics Board.
Perhaps Mr. Hebert (or Earthpapa) should realize the total number of readers who do not comment, but who actively read these articles, is much larger before passing you off as a tabloid writer of small proportions. Everyone in my office keeps track of behind the door State business via this website because this administration has ZERO transparency and you seem to be the avenue for truth.
Excellent point, Mark. Tom’s and other credible blogs have tremendous readership and provide coverage we can no longer get from commercial media.
The 2 premier political bloggers presenting independent views of Louisiana politics are Tom Aswell and C. B. Forgotston and they are both followed by a large number of readers. Lamar White also has a closely-followed political blog with a Louisiana focus. Bob Mann, tends to cover a somewhat broader range and has a regular column in the Times-Pic/NOLA.com expressing independent views. None of these people publish “tabloids” if by which we mean rants and raves. Like all of us, they have opinions. All are regular guests on various radio programs along with respected and independent political analysts like Elliott Stonecipher. These people have credibility and offer a valuable public service.
There was a time, not too long ago, when the mainstream press actually functioned as the fourth estate keeping public officials and others in line by reporting their misdeeds for wide consumption. For economic reasons (including a desire to not offend advertisers in a shrinking market), the fourth estate can no longer be counted on so we have no choice but to turn to bloggers. Bloggers have now become the fifth estate. Since the Internet is free and open, we have to be careful who we follow, but, in general, tabloid style blogs come no where close to providing unbiased views. I really believe Aswell, Forgotston, White, and Mann do their best to present (as Mann titles his blog) something like the truth, certainly as close as they can get to it.
Hear hear, Mr. Winham. Your observations are spot-on. It is indeed sad when economics drives the editorial content of newspapers instead of just the advertising side. Time was when the two were proudly independent of one another, but sadly, money drives decisions in this new reality. Thank goodness for the free and open internet or we would truly be in the dark, nationwide, with honest government transparency ALSO being a thing of the past.
Well said Stephen.
Jindal has deployed a “troll.” Small business owner, loves service from ATC, earthpapa (sounds ironic) hhmmmm, I’m guessing mystery guest will be running the restaurant at shipping magnate’s (sic?), recipient of Jindal’s Robin Hood largesse and retired Dr.’s, Indy Track in the swamp. Now that’s a run on sentence.
Graham and all. Just need to apply a few spritzes of this.
To cover all bases, below is a message I just posted on the other LA Voice post where “Earthpapa” has just appeared.
“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.”
PPS: my little earthlings and I have much better writing skills than Earthpapa. After the burqa comes off (January 11, 2016) I will be happy to teach him the excellent spelling and writing techniques I learned in Louisiana public schools and LSU.
Thank you Tom for continuing to share with readers the campaign violations of elected officials.
I find the angry rants by ,”Earthpapa,” pointless and irritating.
This blog has contained the most accurate reports of political scandals in Louisiana out of all the state media news reports. Some of the major newspapers follow your blog and then print the story because all they have to do is check your revealed sources. Up until recently it has maintained commenters who are sharing insight and intellectual comments for the most part or just sharing a quick comment.
Please keep it like that. The psychological projection is not worth anyone’s time and energy . I completely support the right you have to delete comments or not share them. Every newspaper editorial sections were chosen by the depth of the comment for a perspective that best suits the readers/followers.
Excellent points, Lee. It would appear either Fredster’s spray has been applied, or Earthpapa seems to have run his course.
Someone needs to send Troy a 1099 for the remainder in his campaign treasure chest after he assumed a state position.
Hey lil Troy what has taken you so long to dive off into the grown man’s world of discussion? Is it because certain facts sting a little more than others? Is it because you couldn’t recruit anyone to come an defend you? You’re known for your stealthy ways and staying off the front line due to your fear of real working men. Did you beautiful wife decide to let you play on the computer at home? I bet you’re having timed sections in the evenings before you have to get your lil nerdy boy clothes ready for the follow day’s conquering of ATC agents. Whatever the reason, I think I can speak for a majority of the other MEN on here and welcome you. It’s nice to know such a small lil man has his pullups on and wants to play in the grown up world. Sit back Lil Troy, get you a full bottle of milk, and be prepared to be skinned over this social website with the lies and evidence you’ve supplied for your own undoing. Peace lil man because you’ll eventually need it when Piyush whips you from his behind in a few months.