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With less than a month to go before Lafourche Parish voters choose a district attorney to serve them for the next two years, campaigns for both contenders are picking up steam, along with some disconcerting questions.
Kristine Russell runs as an incumbent, citing a long career as a prosecutor, and the confidence of former District Attorney Cam Morvant II, who chose her to succeed him last year when he resigned due to health concerns. Russell became a full-time prosecutor when Morvant took over the office in 2003, eventually becoming First Assistant. She has played a key role in some of Morvant’s highest profile cases.
Challenging her is Thibodaux City Court prosecutor Brad Naquin, a 20-year veteran. He is the son of former district attorney Walter “Butch” Naquin, who held the office for three terms prior to Morvant’s election.
The March 24 election will decide who shall complete Morvant’s term, which runs until 2020.
At that time another election will be held to determine who shall serve for a full 6-year term. Naquin has made clear his distress at Morvant’s appointment of a successor.
“The office of district attorney is not an appointed position,” he maintains. “It is an elected position by the people of Lafourche Parish.
Some attorneys and community leaders are questioning the scenario that now sees Russell actually sitting in the District Attorney’s chair, suggesting that her appointment was a form of anointing by Morvant.
The former district attorney has accepted employment as an assistant under Russell, which has further fueled criticism. Morvant said he is confident that state law specifically allows what has taken place. He said he resents those who oppose Russell’s candidacy for whatever reason, using his situation to cast doubt on her and her administration.
At a salary of less than what the lowest paid, least experience assistant at the District Attorney’s office makes, Morvant is handling wildlife cases, the pre-trial intervention program and presenting to grand juries, as well dealing with traffic tickets.
He says he remained with the office because doing so would not strain his health to the point where all of the duties of district attorney would. He loves his job, and chose the assistant’s spot
Medical issues surfaced for Morvant in 2015, and while he took step to address them, they persisted into 2017.
“I came to the realization that the demands of being the district attorney were better left to someone with both the experience and stamina to carry ut the job duties,” Morvant said. “In the summer of 2017, after consultation with my physician and with my family, I decided to step down as district attorney.”
Having been employed as district attorney for 15 years, and by the office for more than 30 years, amounts were deducted from Morvant’s pay and placed into the District Attorney’s Retirement System.
La. RS 11:1731 (F)(2) states that a district attorney or assistant may retire, and be rehired at a salary less than the minimum salary set forth by state law for assistants, which is $45,000.
That law, enacted in 1991, was intended to allow the experience of former district attorneys to be available to the public after they left their positions.
“Although my medical condition forced me to step back from the demands of being district attorney, I still feel as though I can serve the public,” Morvant said.
