Former Lafayette School Board Consultant Face Ethics Charge

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana Board of Ethics says the Lafayette school board's former insurance consultant allegedly violated ethics laws by offering a board member tickets to a Saints game while conducting business with the school board.

The Ethics Board filed a charge against Rina Tikia on Jan. 15 for giving then-board member Mark Cockerham two tickets to the Nov. 17, 2013, New Orleans Saints game against the San Francisco 49ers. The face value of the tickets was $300 apiece.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1Cyb9eW ) the board's decision was not released until Tuesday.

The charges were referred to the ethics adjudicatory board to conduct a hearing and determine any penalties.

Tikia could not be reached by phone for comment.

Cockerham had admitted publicly to receiving the tickets and said he attempted to return them.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com