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Do you remember Anita Begnaud? In this episode, we revisit a high-profile tax controversy from 2022. It involved the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in Lafayette, Louisiana. At the time, Citizens for a New Louisiana raised serious concerns that public resources were being illegally used to promote an ad valorem tax renewal on the ballot. In response, we were labeled as conspiracy theorists, stalkers, and worse.
But now the truth is out on Anita Begnaud’s actions
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor has officially confirmed our findings. Anita Begnaud, then the CEO of the DDA, was cited for violating state law by using public funds to promote a tax proposition. This is a clear violation of Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1465. The statute strictly prohibits the use of taxpayer money to influence voters in any election.
What’s more, Anita Begnaud quietly left her position just weeks after the audit report was released. She accepted a new role in Virginia, where she would work for a familiar figure: Jason El Koubi. Long-time readers will recall that his name is also associated with leaving town after a different tax push in Lafayette, which we exposed in 2017.
This episode breaks down the timeline, including our original multi-part submission to the auditor, the smear campaign we endured, and the audit’s damning conclusion. It’s a case study in how truth eventually rises to the surface no matter how fiercely it’s buried.
If you’ve ever doubted the importance of government watchdogs or the power of persistence, this story will change your mind.
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Behind Every Blade of Grass
There’s a running joke around our office that Citizens for a New Louisiana is hiding behind every blade of grass. We’ve heard stories about government officials reconsidering questionable decisions because they were worried we’d find out. That’s a remarkable return on an investment we never made: "reaping where we did not sow, and gathering where we scattered no seed." But there’s something important in here, too.
Our little flashlight has earned us a reputation for bringing things to light. Now many officials act as if someone is watching, even when there isn't. That’s the real value of our government transparency work. It's more than just exposing wrongdoing after the fact. We've created an environment where public officials think twice.
Of course, we can’t actually be behind every blade of grass. There are thousands of public meetings, countless government transactions, and more questionable decisions than our small team could ever hope to investigate. But with your help, we can keep them wondering.
If you believe government works better when someone is paying attention, please consider supporting our work.
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