City resources used in campaign for City Marshal
City email and possibly city computers were used on behalf of a candidate in the City Marshal’s race.
The email address, AUSTINL@bossiercity.org, was used to send solicitations to city employees as well as for other campaign related emails. It was used as recently as this week. I have been told that the email address has been taken down as of this weekend.
Email from bossiercity.org addresses can only be accessed through city computers, or through authorized home computers that have been set up to access the city’s mainframe. Unlike some public email providers, it cannot be accessed through a personal computer (unless set up by the city) or by a cell phone.
This raises some very awkward questions.
Lynn Austin resigned from his job as CAO effective November 30th. Why did he still have a city email address and access to the account as recently as February 17th? Who authorized this?
In any event, at the very least, it is highly unethical.
You just don’t use city resources to campaign for office.
Posts
Holy shit.
No surprise there just typical
Just another reason not to vote for him
Wonder if there will be an investigation and charges pressed if warranted?
The question is who let him have continued use of city computer and e-mail? That person needs to step up and be held accountable. I am sure that person will never admit it. Good old Bossier City
Looks like some of that mud his supporters slung just came back and hit him in the face.
Sounds like ethics law violations or theft of intellectual property! If he had permission, it is possible ethics violations and elections law violations. If he did not have permission, it is theft! Which is it?
OK Mayor Walker, who continued to give him use of a computer. You need to do the right thing for once!
There are two sides to every story.
Those emails were sent to civil service emplyees who are not supposed to have anything to do with politics.
Nice.
There is nothing wrong with soliciting a civil servants vote, however it is totaly wrong and illegal to use tax payer resources to do it.
Establishment at work. I bet Marty Carlson doesnt write about this, mayby another story about the forward looking leaders of bossier again. LOL
its funny how marryings,buryings and campaigning brings out ones true personalities
I'm not even in Bossier City limits - therefore not voting in the race, but why don't you just come out and officially say you're pro-Wyatt? Or at least anti-Austin? I love this site and it's Bossier news but when you mask your contempt for Austin as news it's just not being genuine.
Jim reported what happened. He did not make it up or lie. How is that being pro Wyatt? I believe that if Wyatt did something like this, Jim would report that also.
If the password to the account is not deleted the e-mail system can be accessed from any computer or phone. The City does not have to do anything special to a computer or phone.
Sending a email really costs the city nothing. That is why email is used-- no cost.
Its not uncommon to let people keep an email address, especially if they have had it for a while.
If he was friends with these people, then he can contact them.
It not like the wrote a letter on city letter head and ran it though the pitney bowes machine. These were not faxed.
Main concern is if he wrote these on city time, and it does not appear that he did.
Jim, you make a big leap saying this is "highly unethical". Sending an email to friends is not unethical. This is simply smoke in mirrors.
"Its not uncommon to let people keep an email address, especially if they have had it for a while."
A public employee keeps their email after they leave their employment? Are you kidding me?
what part of its illegal to use city owned equipment for personnal use dont you get?. the ethics commision will also tell you its against the campaigning laws and the police chief told the officers they could not get politically involved by law and they get vote solicitation over their police computers. lets get real. i love lynn but he screwed up
wyatt and rechard should get the same opportunity surely nobody has a problem with that. city hall what you say about that?
This is the same email he used to in that letter for the $1,500 to $2,500 fundraiser at Citi Tele Coin. He mailed it out to like 5000 plus people in the city
He aint hiding the use of the city email
Ya'll need to shut up about Lynn. This is how business is done in Bossier City/Bossier Parish -
and stop crying about it -
nobody can do anything about this -he is in power and is backed by people in power so shut up about it
Why can't they just step up and say this shouldn't have happened for whatever reason.
Own your mistakes and they won't own you.
Ya'll need to shut up about Lynn. This is how business is done in Bossier City/Bossier Parish -
and stop crying about it -
nobody can do anything about this -he is in power and is backed by people in power so shut up about it"
As long as you accept this fate, you will continue to be a slave. You will let corruption continue and you have nobody to blame but your own lazy self.
This may be the way "business is done", but we have state and federal laws, and BC/CP is not exempt from those laws.
Anon 11:58 You are an idiot. Who is going to enforce the State Law on this one?
Exactly - No One. No Body. No elected person is going to do anything about the state law violations of any kind to any body if there are any violations.
Anyone who thinks different is just silly
Not with that attitude.
Why you doggin' on people who are trying to change the way things are done? Isn't that better than being complacent or simply accepting that we all live in a cage?
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
~Samuel Adams
Wow - good blogs Carl Wayne
Anon 1:58. Don't you mean John Wayne
Who is Carl Wayne and what does he have to do with this?
nOTHING GONNa change by blogging about it
nobody gonna do a thing about this or any other alleged campaign violations
Welcome to Hickville, Louisiana - aka Bossier
Blogging in and of itself will not change a thing. Jim blogs about the actions taken. It's a way to expose the corruption.
Jim -
Need to know record for most comments in a single day for a blog posting - this makes 32
Wanna break the Mybossier records - this is 33
Just to clarify. This did not pass the 'smell' test. Anyone who says that it is okay is either being very naive or disingenuous.
If it was okay to send city employees (and others) email soliciations on behalf of a candidate from a city computer they would all do it. We had a city election two years ago and I never heard of anything like this. The mayor didn't do it, the council members didn't do it.
Why? Because it is wrong.
It is just as wrong, or even worse, when someone who doesn't work for the city does it.
I don't know the record number of comments for one day. The record number on any blog post was 187, during the judge's race a couple of years ago.
is it ok to send city employees emails to city email address if done from a private computer?
If Lynn would do this - what will he do when he gets elected - and he will get elected
Well we are up to 38
good start
"is it ok to send city employees emails to city email address if done from a private computer?"
To their personal email accounts, certainly. To city email accounts, no.
Jim- I noticed there appears to be some real time blogging going on here.
glad to see it
Why won't you just admit that you like Sam Wyatt for the job and be done with it.
Jim,
Does Mr. Austin have a website up yet? I'm sure you'll link to it as well.
I have this up on my sidebar during every election:
If you are a candidate for any public office and would like to present your message in My Bossier, write it up and send it to us at mybossier@gmail.com
I have published info for a number of candidates in the past. Both Sam Wyatt and Carl Richard sent me articles to publish on their behalf and I did. I would be happy to do the same for Lynn Austin.
Both Wyatt and Richard asked me to post their websites and I did. I would be happy to do the same for Lynn Austin - if he has a website. I have been unable to find one.
Last time I checked, Lynn Austin didn't have a webpage or even a Facebook page. I guess he's betting solely on name recognition to help him win, because his platform is nonexistent.
Matt-
Your up to speed on FOI requests correct? Are emails sent to the city server, in this caes the Lynn Austin account - considered public records subject to a FOI request?
Is ther any statute, rule, law etc. someone can cite to say this was an "unethical" activity?
Everybody needs a f n rule these days - how about common sense
How is that for a rule - dumbass
It really does not matter if Lynn Austin wins or not, he will go back to his old job at city hall... it is a win win situation for him.
I'm up to speed on Public Records Requests. Sure you can ask for all emails, but who can prove the individual in question provided every single email and didn't cherry pick or delete some?
I think it matters if Austin wins or not. Winning the Marshal's race means he can be a self-promoter until the Mayor's race, then he has a leg up on any challenger.
If he loses, he's still the faceless CAO.
i dont think you can make a freedom of information request on public server activity, that would require a court order.
Saying Jim is a supporter of another candidate is a non-issue and a cop-out. Jim did not fabricate the e-mail. We could all argue whether or not the law is ethical, but being in public office I would HOPE to assume Mr. Austin knows its in the political canons and chose to do so anyway.
I think that speaks to his character, but its one of those deals where candidates that "cheat" or skirt the rules are not penalized, or if so its after the election and doesn't carry much weight. Easier to apologize than ask for permission which is why this sort of thing always happens in elections.
Emails are subject to PRRs.
(2)(a) All books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers, and all copies, duplicates, photographs, including microfilm, or other reproductions thereof, or any other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, including information contained in electronic data processing equipment...
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=99632
Who wants to request the Emails?
I bet they are real real intresting.
Why Mr. Austin, Why?
Austin should be ashamed, Lo Walker should be ashamed for letting him use his Bossier City EMail account. Typical good ole boy "BS". Heard that Austin spoke to some cops and made the comment that he still gets the Activity reports from the Police Department, what a scam. Of course no other news outlet is covering this issue. Thanks Jim
This City and Parish is amazing. The voters will vote Mr. Austin in I bet big. this is all silly
Mr. Austin - hold your head high Sir. For you, like many others in this town are above the Frey and above the rules and laws.
Thank you Sir and good luck
We,the Masses bow down in awe and respect for our Master of our crappy universe we call Bossier City.
LOL. That's funny. Master of our crappy universe - yea aint that truth - this town is a crappy place- backwards thinking people that think everything is ok because they have a strip center to go to and shop and they have places to buy wings etc.
what a sad place - with sad, overpaid public officials
LOL. That's funny. Master of our crappy universe - yea aint that truth - this town is a crappy place- backwards thinking people that think everything is ok because they have a strip center to go to and shop and they have places to buy wings etc.
what a sad place - with sad, overpaid public officials
Jim -
Just checking in again - what a lot of comments - what was the record again for most comments?
Do you think this sets a one day records for most posts?
Wonder if the news media will pick up on this issue and the fact that My Bossier had so many posts in one day
At least he is not using his Bossier Parish School Board email address
Anon 5:57 are activity reports like the PDR that the president and ex presidents can get-
Presidential Daily Briefings
Only important people get the daily activity report for Bossier City
Is there a rule, statute, law, cannon, etc that you have to use your current picture on your campaign signs and literature?
If so, we may have another problem
Jim,
We respectully request that you move on and take this blog down.
this is too much to handle
please take this down asap
It's on Channel 6 website
arklatexhomepage.com
"I just sent it on the wrong outlook account. I'm guilty of making a mistake. I didn't ask anybody to leave my Bossier email account open, they left it open. I changed my g-mail account the day I left. I bought my own computer."
Really dude?
his confession was on the 6 oclock news probably will be on at 10 and he says he made a mistake on about 250 e-mails
how do you make a mistake when you have to log into the city computer each time hmmmm
He said 30 or so emails, Natale said 250.
They left his account open for a smooth transition, even though he no longer worked there.
Do they realize how weak this sounds?
Good point about the picture on his billboards. Why doesn't he use a current or untouched picture? I see the other two candidates used their current pictures.
He doesn't know what account he's sending emails out on and he wants to head up the internet task force for predators & be in charge of the computer forensics lab?
Seriously?
I understand the sentiment expressed by many of the Anons today. But you must not give up.
Change can truly come to Bossier City/Parish, but only at the ballot box. People like you need to make sure that your friends, co-workers, people in your church, are registered to vote, and give them a reminder call on election day.
For those in Bossier City, March 2 is the registration deadline to be able to vote in the City Marhsall's race. You can even pick up the registration form for your friends at the Registrar's Office.
And on election day, call, text, FaceBook them, but bug the heck out of them until they have voted.
VIDEOS ARE UP!!!
http://nwlatpa.ning.com/
You all know that this City Email address was used in his fund raiser letter that was held at City-Tele Coin.
So, now how is that an accident?
Also, there were several other times that the email address was used for campagining.
I heard that several hundred and thousand emails were sent from the city email address -
is that true?
If you have hard evidence, I'd like to take a look.
Natale looked like he had just eaten a rotten watermelon.
Matt - I think the tea party needs to ask for the emails via a FOI.
Also, please request a current picture of Mr. Austin.
I noticed he is not on your video interview and he phoned in to KTAL -thus not on video
Is there somehting we need to know about his current appearance
Matt - and Tea Party
Please get to the bottom of this email business
Remember they didn't keep minutes -and still don't
Now email accounts are being used
Please get any and all emails from the October 8,2010 to the present off that account - you may be shocked at what you discover
Dear Mark
Is it 30 or 40 or 250 or more like
well lets just say a whole lot more
Feel the power of the dark side of the force!
I understand what SHOULD be discovered with a public records request of email accounts. The problem is, when I request them, how is anyone to prove that all emails are accounted for?
It can cost a lot of money for a PRR that broad, especially when I have no proof that they left something out.
Luke, Luke I am your father. OB1 never told you who your real father was.
Jim, post the entire email from January 6, 2011. You will read in there that "I believe in the pricipals ...led by the Tea Party"
why didn't he give a tea party interview
Jim? Post the entire email please
Jim, if you post the entire email you will see the email was checked by a program called
messagelabs.com/email
This is a service provided by Symantec Cloud - a cloud based system is not a personal computer
Furthermore, Symantec Cloud and the messagelabs.com/email system is for company, small business, gov't with losts of emplpoyess
so, wrong account? I don't know
You all be the judge.
post the entire email Jim - it says 3, 4 or 5 times in there to contact me by e-mail
What you see is what I was send. If you have a copy with more on it, send it to me at mybossier@gmail.com.
Black out the recipients name.
I will say as a past city employee I saw many emails selling personal items as well as solicitations to vote in support of milage renewals but never a request for a support of individual political candidates. In fact I do believe there is a Mayors directive about personal use however how can he enforce something hes guilty of himself. I agree with the anon who posted that nothing will happen from anyone here locally. The only action that will come will come from the ethics board, who can do no more than fine him.
Sadly he is not the only politician who has used the public resources for their on campaign.
Stop that! Sheesh.
I'm just hanging out here, waiting to be #100 commenter.
I'm pretty sure there shall be a prize.
I think I'm #89...but I've got my hand on the switch.
Ten
You were #11, stupid.
I'm number 10.
I agree, there's no need to trash anyone. I think the race can be decided on a person's background and qualifications.
#93. I'm gonna winz me this prize!!!
So the Austin guy miscounted emails sent by 15,000 or so. He's a former cop, not an astronaut. What'd y'all expect??
we should all learn a lot from this campaign. Austin just handed this race to Carl.
Wooley lost because of a stupid sign issue and Austin will loose because of a silly email issue.
If austin loses he will be back on as CAO making 120,000 a year.
I think Austin just lost his chances as mayor also. This snafu will not be soon forgotten. Jsut ask Chubby.
well said, this changes everything
If wyatt was smart he would start attacking carl and come out smelling like a rose.
If wyatt was smart he would start attacking carl and come out smelling like a rose.
IF wyatt won't expose carl's past, then maybe he doesn't deserve to win.
Lynn has never beaten his wife. That cannot be said of all candidates. Let's get the dirt out there so we can all have some fun with this race.
i think carls past has been pretty much revealed.im more concerned about our marshals office being placed in honest capable hands for our city.than we can find a new game to play.
I think by the math being used here to count the emails, i can understand how there are budget problems in bossier.
Just sayin.
Dear Mayor Walker -
You have the best staff of any city in the country. They have great emailing skills
what a joke - a sad bad joke
The next person to be voted out -
Walker.
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