ELECTED LAFOURCHE OFFICIALS COULD BE SUBJECT TO DRUG TESTING

THIBODAUX -- Appointed and elected Lafourche Parish officials may
soon face mandatory random drug tests.

The proposal, which the Parish Council is scheduled to consider
Tuesday, is the brainchild of Councilman Lindel Toups. He introduced
it after proposing random drug tests of public-school employees,
which prompted some local residents to question why the same tests
aren't required of government representatives.

Toups said he believes his peers will support his newest
measure.

"I don't see why not. I don't see why somebody could vote against
it," he said. "We drug test employees, so why not drug test the
council and administration?"

The measure mandates that anyone in the parish administration or on
the council be drug tested at random. It does not state how often the
drug testing should occur.

Council members are set to decide the matter during their regular
meeting, which starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the former Walmart, 4876
La. 1 in Mathews.

Toups' other drug-test proposal, which originated as a formal request
that state lawmakers pass a law requiring drug tests of public-school
employees and later evolved into mass drug tests for anyone relying
on government dollars, will not go before the council Tuesday.

Toups said he will wait until he knows all nine council members will
be attendance.

The first incarnation of that measure -- which was directed at
public-school teachers -- was overwhelmingly shot down a month ago,
with Toups casting the lone vote in favor.

He returned two weeks later with a substitute measure to drug test
anyone relying on government dollars. Council members thought that
one passed, but they learned later it failed because of a
technicality.

A majority of the council members present voted for the measure,
resulting in a 4-3 vote. However, District Attorney Cam Morvant later
said the parish's bylaws require a majority vote from the nine-member
council, not a majority of those present.

Toups has promised to bring the measure back to the council when all
nine members are present. However, Councilman Phillip Gouaux will be
in Kansas, and Councilman Daniel Lorraine will be unable to attend
while he continues to recover from triple-bypass heart surgery.

Toups said he expects to present the measure to the council during
the first meeting in January. The council's second December meeting,
originally scheduled for Dec. 23, has been canceled.