By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – St. Tammany Coroner Dr. Peter Galvan is asking a judge to support his efforts to keep the Louisiana legislative auditor from viewing e-mails circulated among key personnel in his office.
Galvan is the target of an investigation by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera, after the St. Tammany Parish Council asked Purpera to look into questions about misspending by Galvan and his staff over the past six years.
Purpera asked Galvan on April 15 to produce all e-mails between himself and six employees: Michael DeFatta, Melanie Comeaux, Kim Kelly, Mark Lmbard and Rebecca Caminita.
However, Galvan not only refused to release the e-mails, but went on the offensive by asking a judge in the 22nd Judicial District of St. Tammany to quash the subpoena from Purpera, or place the e-mails under seal so they could not be viewed by the press.
Galvan currently has complete control over his office’s $5 million budget with little oversight, thanks to a 2007 law that also allows him to set his own salary. Galvan currently makes $200,000 per year, while many of his employees are making over $100,000. The Orleans Parish coroner makes an annual salary of about $100,000.
“(HB 561) will restore control back to the Parish Council as it was prior to 2007,” said Burns.
Over $4 million of the coroner’s budget is generated by a 4-mill property tax approved by St. Tammany voters in 2004, and for which Galvan lobbied heavily. The millage allowed for the construction of an $11 million state-of-the-art crime lab in Lacombe.
The Slidell Independent initially reported questionable credit card use in the coroner’s office in a story last Dec., 2012, including nearly $30,000 in dining charges at some of the area’s best restaurants during the 2007-08 year. Liberal spending on alcohol was included in the dining expenses. The information was made public in connection with a wrongful termination lawsuit filed against Galvan by Dr. Laura King.
Throughout all news reports, Galvan consistently refuses to speak publicly about any charges, claiming the information is in connection with a pending lawsuit. He did, however, send his counsel to oppose the bill at last week’s legislative committee meeting, which unanimously pushed the bill to the House floor.
At the committee meeting, coroner’s office Executive Director Melanie Comeaux argued that the bill is unconstitutional, Burns said. She also reminded legislators that the case against Galvan has not been full deposed and no convictions have been made.
No matter, Burns said.
“The allegations against his office, while they haven’t been addressed in a criminal setting, I think people have really heard enough,” said Burns. “Based on our records furnished by the coroner’s office we don’t really need a case disposition to take action.”
Burns says he has the full support of the St. Tammany delegation and is optimistic the bill will pass once it hits the Senate floor.