Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price is now setting a record for the number of political scandals involving one politician. It is dizzying to try to keep up with Price and his misdeeds. From his inappropriate involvement in a criminal case by calling the Mandeville Police on behalf of a man accused of attacking a woman at a bar to his problems behind the wheel, Price has been the source of many embarrassing episodes. Each and every time, he received undeserved preferential treatment. A regular person cannot drink and drive without getting a ticket and a trip to jail, but Eddie Price is no regular person, he is mayor of Mandeville, a position he has held too long.

Price was also involved in the Mandeville toy fund scandal as he was the recipient of lavish gifts while underprivileged children were shortchanged. An audit found that only one-fourth of the money raised by the fund was spent on toys and assistance for the needy. The bulk of the money was spent on gifts, food and parties for city employees and politicians like Eddie Price. The outrageous misappropriation of this fund led to the investigation by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. The audit report was a bombshell expose of credit card abuse, lavish vacations paid by city vendors, and misuse of city vehicles. Again at the center of the misconduct was the chief partygoer Mayor Price.

The report is a very damaging revelation into the operation of Mandeville City Hall. It shows a shocking sense of entitlement. It shows a mayor out of touch with hard working citizens, using the trappings of his office to travel the world, play golf and go hunting and basically party like a rock star. Mayor Price has acted like these extravagant gifts and travel just go with his job, yet he already makes $96,000 and has an annual expense allowance of $8,500. After the incident on the Causeway, Price gave the excuse that he was going to see his sister at midnight. Now he wants us to believe that he was taking exotic trips funded by contractors so he could investigate architecture and attend “local council meetings.” These excuses are laughable. Does Price think the taxpayers of Mandeville are that dumb?

From the Police Chief to certain council members to members of the administration, the scope of the inappropriate behavior has been shocking. The extravagant travel shows that there has been a cozy relationship with top city vendors. The use of the city credit card was inappropriate as well since documentation was lacking in most cases. Now the Mandeville City Council has passed new rules for credit card use, but what have they been doing for the past few years? Where were the adults to stop this raid on the treasury and safeguard the tax dollars in Mandeville?

Another example of taxpayer waste is the fact that the City of Mandeville has hired an expensive team of attorneys to defend Price and find problems with the audit. Price should hire his own defense lawyer not the taxpayers. Price says he will not resign, but the Metropolitan Crime Commission is rightly calling for the mayor to vacate his office. It is time for Mayor Price to resign. He has abused his position and the public trust. In addition, he might have legal issues which will soon occupy his attention and will take him away from his “duties.”

If he does not resign, he should be recalled by the citizens of Mandeville. The City of Mandeville needs new leadership. This case shows that political corruption does not stop at the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, for it knows no boundaries in the state of Louisiana.

Jeff Crouere, a native of New Orleans and resident of Mandeville, is host of a Louisiana-based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. Sundays on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM on the Northshore. For more information, visit his Web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.