Since he entered the JP Sheriff’s race, I have discussed
Johnny Fortunato’s choice of Greg Buisson as his Campaign Manager.
Fortunato certainly has the right to choose anyone as his
Campaign Manager and, given his track record at least, Buisson has certainly
run many winning campaigns.
Buisson has also worked with many of Metro NOLA’s most
unscrupulous and criminal elected officials including former JP President Aaron
Broussard, ex-St. Tammany Coroner Peter Galvin and many others.
Along the way, Buisson has used his influence with the
politicians that he has helped get elected to enrich himself and extend his
greedy tentacles into several organizations that receive tax funding funneled
to them (and authorized) by those same Buisson clients. In my mind, this is a
classic example of a conflict of interest but Buisson’s clients keep finding
ways to shovel more money his way while our State Ethics Board looks the other
way.
Current Orleans Parish Councilman-At-Large and former State Rep. Helena Moreno even granted Buisson's daughter a scholarship to Tulane, despite the fact the Buisson didn't live in her district and other students may have been more deserving.
Unfortunately, I can’t turn a blind eye.
As Buisson is already the longtime Campaign Manager of
Jefferson Parish’s Sexual Predator-in-Chief Mike Yenni, 4 Jefferson Parish
Councilmen, the Mayor of Kenner Ben Zahn and several Kenner City Councilmen,
along with Buisson’s relationships with groups that receive Parish and Kenner
funding like the Jefferson Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and numerous other
groups, I questioned whether it wise to also let Buisson have access to the
vast resources of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
I also speculated about what type of relationship a Sheriff
Fortunato would have with a disgraced Parish President like Mike Yenni.
Now, in Fortunato’s own words, we can put that speculation
to rest.
During last night’s
WDSU Hot Seat, Travers Mackel asked Fortunato and Interim Sheriff Joe Lopinto
two interesting questions regarding Yenni and both candidates gave opposite
responses.
“Q: Should Mike Yenni have resigned after his scandal with a
teen male about a year and half ago?
Fortunato: NO
Lopinto: Yes
Q: If elected Sheriff, would you support Mike Yenni in the
2019 election cycle for re-election?
Lopinto: No
Fortunato: Yes (looks to the side, possibly seeking Buisson’s
approval)”
In the recent Jefferson Parish District 4 Council race
between Dominick Impastato and State Senator Danny Martiny, Impastato (also
represented by Buisson) was able to deceive the voters into believing that he
was not supported by Yenni and did not and would not support and enable Yenni.
As we found out after he was elected to the JP Council ,
Impastato has always sided with whatever Mike Yenni wants just as he did when
Dominick sat on the Kenner City Council.
I have already chronicled Impastato’s long ties with Yenni.
Impastato owes his political career to Mike Yenni and Team Buisson.
Unfortunately for Fortunato, his own words won’t allow him
to deceive the public as Impastato did.
In his opening statement, Lopinto said, “I’m Sheriff Joe
Lopinto. I want to let the public know who I am.”
Last night we also learned who Johnny Fortunato is – and who
his friends are.
Sorry Johnny. We already have too many Yenni-enablers like
Impastato in Parish Government and running the City of Kenner.
We don’t need a Sheriff that enables and supports a Sexual
Predator too.
