Gov. Mike Foster has not appointed any new members to the three expired seats on the LSU Board of Supervisors, but appointed Marty Charbert to the recent vacancy left by Bernard Boudreaux, executive counsel to the governor and at large board member.
Board member Ronald Anderson’s term has been expired since 2002, and Victor Bussie and Laura Leach’s terms have been expired since 2000.
Louisiana state law says members will serve a term of six years or until the governor appoints a successor.
Steven Johnson, the governor’s deputy press secretary, said no specific time table has been set by the governor to make the reappointments.
“He is taking his time to make sure he puts the best people in the slots,” Johnson said.
By appointing board members late in his term, Foster is able to keep people he approves of on the board long after he is out of the governor’s mansion.
Johnson said because the members serve on the board at the governor’s discretion, they can sit in their seats until the governor reappoints them or appoints someone to replace them.
Board member Bernard Boudreaux Jr. was representing the third district — New Iberia — but he moved from New Iberia to Baton Rouge.
Because Boudreaux was representing a district he did not live in, he was removed from the position and was appointed to the at large position, which was occupied by Stanley Jacobs.
Jacobs said he will be forever indebted to the governor for appointing him to the position in the first place and thoroughly enjoyed serving on the board.
However, he said he understands that because Boudreaux and Foster have been lifelong friends, Foster needed to find a spot for Boudreaux.
“I feel confident he wanted to keep me on the board, but Mr. Boudreaux needed a position,” Jacobs said. “I understand they have had a lifelong friendship — I understand the reality of it.”
Marty Charbert was appointed March 6 to replace Boudreaux in the third district, said Carleen Smith, Board of Supervisors administrative secretary.
Last month, Perry Segura was reappointed in the third district, Kent Anderson was reappointed in the fifth district and Charles Weems III was reappointed in the fifth district, Smith said.
The four new reappointments will have to be confirmed by the House and Senate this legislative session, she said.
Charbert could not be reached for comment.