DA: Landry lives in IPC District 7

The 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office found Paul Landry, a candidate for the Iberia Parish Council District 7 seat, to be properly domiciled in the district.

The finding comes after challenger John Berard, who formerly held the seat four years ago, asked the district attorney’s office to verify Landry’s qualifications for the seat.

Landry signed up as a candidate by listing his home address, 140 Plantation Drive, New Iberia. Though the home is within District 7, Berard pointed out Landry was appointed to the Iberia Parish Sewerage District by listing another address, 2417 W. Old Spanish Trail, which is outside of District 7.

Landry verified that he owned that property without calling it his domicile and used it to qualify for the Sewerage District because the property is hooked up to the system and is assessed property taxes for the district.

The district attorney’s office found no issue as it relates to Landry’s candidacy for Parish Council.

“In legal terms, residence and domicile are not synonymous,” said 16th Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhé in a response letter. “The most often cited difference is that a person can have several residences, but only one domicile.”

Duhé explained Landry’s longstanding voter registration at 140 Plantation Drive, as well as the address’ use on motor vehicle registration and other important documentation helped verify Landry as a domiciliary.

Landry called Berard’s request “dirty politics” and pointed out he’s lived at 140 Plantation Drive for almost 30 years. He said he was happy to produce all of the necessary documentation to prove such.

“A couple of simple phone calls would have been easier than all of this,” Landry said. “You don’t throw stones from a glass house.”

Berard said he accepted Landry’s domicile verification, but he also was concerned that Landry was still a member of the Sewerage District when he doesn’t have a domicile there. That issue, Berard said, was one that fell into the state Ethics Commission’s purview.

“The district attorney did his job in determining to could be a candidate,” Berard said. “I feel confident that this will be addressed shortly.”