Today we’ve got three new state board appointments courtesy of the Jindal administration, as last night the governor’s press office offered up more of its seemingly-endless strings of political patronage announcements.

Of course, this is not an indictment of the Jindal administration per se. The governor is constitutionally mandated to fill these boards, and he’s doing the job laid out for him in doing so. Nor is it an indictment of the appointees, per se. They’re folks doing public service, which is to be commended, according to the system we’ve built.

That said, ask yourself if it’s really necessary for these boards to exist.

Governor Bobby Jindal Announces the Appointment of Patrick Sanders to the Louisiana State Board of Embalming and Funeral Directors

BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of Patrick Sanders to the Louisiana State Board of Embalming and Funeral Directors.

The Louisiana State Board of Embalming and Funeral Directors regulates embalmers, funeral homes, and funeral directors, and handles consumer complaints. It also establishes requirements for funeral homes and individuals engaged in the care and disposition of the deceased.

The board is composed of seven members appointed by the governor and subject to Senate confirmation. The board includes three licensed embalmers and three licensed funeral directors, two of which are appointed from the state at large and four members represent districts around the state.

Patrick Sanders, of Reserve, is a funeral director and embalmer at Robottom Mortuary and is on the School Board in St. John Parish.  Sanders will serve as a licensed funeral director representing District D, as required by statute.

Governor Bobby Jindal Announces Appointments to the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Board of Directors

BATON ROUGE- Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Board of Directors.

The New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Board of Directors serves to maintain a program of professional quality training, coaching, and performing for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who aspire to be artists, performers, and arts technicians.

According to the statute, the board is comprised of thirteen members, including two persons appointed by the Orleans Parish School Board, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives in whose election district the center’s main campus is located or his designee, and a member of the Louisiana Senate in whose election district the center’s main campus is located or his designee.  The remaining nine members are the following gubernatorial appointments:

• Two members, at least one of whom shall be a member of a minority racial group in the state;
• One member who shall be from outside the greater New Orleans region;
• One member from among nominees submitted by the mayor of the city of New Orleans;
• One member from among nominees submitted either by the presidents of Dillard University, Xavier University, and Southern University at New Orleans, acting jointly either personally or by a person designated from among their most senior university colleagues, or by one such president or his designee for one term alternated with the other presidents or their designees for subsequent terms, as decided by them jointly;
• Two members from among nominees submitted by the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts institute;
• One member from among nominees submitted by the faculty and employed as at least a half-time faculty member; and
• One member who is an alumnus or alumna of the center selected from among nominees submitted by the president/chief executive officer of the center.

Appointments to the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Board of Directors:

Vivian Charbonnet, of New Orleans, is an independent college counselor and was formerly a college recruiter for Martin Marietta.  Charbonnet will be reappointed to serve as a member appointed by the governor whom shall be a member of a minority racial group in the state, as required by statute.

Ronald Markham, of New Orleans, is the president and CEO of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.  Markham will be appointed to serve as a member who is an alumnus or alumna of the center selected from among nominees submitted by the president/chief executive officer of the center, as required by statute.

Lee Randall, of New Orleans, is the Vice President & General Auditor for Energy Services, Inc.  Randall will be appointed to serve as a member selected from nominees submitted by the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Institute, as required by statute.

Paul Werner, of New Orleans, is the chair of Media Arts at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.  Werner will be appointed to serve as a member from among nominees submitted by the faculty and employed as at least a half-time faculty member, as required by statute.

Governor Bobby Jindal Announces the Appointment of Arthur Gerald Bourgeois to the Employment Security Board of Review

BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of Arthur Gerald Bourgeois to the Employment Security Board of Review.

The Employment Security Board of Review serves to assess appeal claims for unemployment insurance benefits.

According to statute, the board is comprised of five members appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation. Two members will serve as representatives of labor, two members will serve as representatives of management and one member will serve at-large.

Arthur Gerald Bourgeios, of Gonzales, is the Owner of Black Bayou Holding, LLC. Bourgeios will serve as a representative of management, as required by statute.