Shreveport City Councilman John Nickelson has asked the state auditor to conduct an investigative audit of the city’s Finance Department.
Nickelson, chairman of the City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee, made the request Thursday morning to Legislative Auditor Michael J. Waguespack.
About 30 minutes later, Nickelson was stripped of his committee chairmanship by new council Chairman James Green. Nickelson held the title for three years.
In a social media post, Nickelson said, “I love Shreveport. I’ve given my constituents and our city 110 percent since I was elected in 2018. But loving Shreveport isn’t enough. We all have to fight for Shreveport – and we have to do everything in our power to make sure eight smart, competent, honest people are elected to lead the city in the fall 2022 elections. Our future depends on it.”
The request to Waguespack comes three days after the city’s former controller alleged possible illegalities in the city’s finances and accounting. Ben Hebert, 85, said he was fired in December after he brought those issues to the attention of his supervisors, including Kasey Brown, who is the interim chief financial officer.
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Hebert alleges age and racial discrimination in his dismissal and said he plans to file suit by week’s end.
In his letter, Nickelson cited Hebert’s termination.
“Last month, the city’s interim chief financial officer unceremoniously fired the city’s controller, Ben Hebert, without notice to all council members. Mr. Hebert, a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner, has made a wide range of allegations concerning incompetence and malfeasance in the Finance Department. These allegations from a former member of the city’s management team are serious and call into question the department’s capacity to administer public funds. They require a full, fair and transparent investigation that only your office can provide.”
Nickelson included with his letter the statement Hebert made Monday during a news conference.
