Sound Off Louisiana

Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC) Executive Director Erin Marceaux announces on December 1, 2025 the arrival of body worn cameras to be worn by inspectors after training as the Board attempts to get a handle on highly abusive treatment being alleged by numerous salon owners having transpired by LSBC inspectors throughout Louisiana.

On August 27, 2025, we reported that considerable anger arose among licensed cosmetologists over Gov. Landry’s signing into law a 40 percent license fee increase.  That feature also highlighted $200 in cash money mysteriously left for an inspector with the notation of “thank you.”

Almost without fail, all of the correspondence we received regarding anger at Gov. Jeff Landry was that he’d just given the LSBC a massive amount of money to hire even more inspectors to, as one source stated to us, “harass the hell out of us as if they aren’t already doing enough of that!”

The new LSBC Members, to their credit, sought to attempt to allay some of the fears of inspector harassment by promising to implement the use of body cameras for all inspectors.  On December 1, 2025, newly-named LSBC Executive Director Erin Marceaux took a minute to openly tout the arrival of the body worn cameras on Wednesday, November 27, 2025:

12/1/25:  Marceaux states how excited everyone is over the arrival of the body worn cameras and that full training will take place in the near future.

The contract for the cameras was executed on October 15, 2025 and calls for the lease of ten (10) cameras at a cost of $750/month for three (3) years.

At the February 2, 2026 LSBC meeting, Marceaux takes 45 seconds to update the Members on how “wonderfully” the body cameras have been working for her and her staff:

2/2/26:  Marceaux conveys the excitement of she and her staff over the implementation of the body cameras.

During the weekend of April 18-19, a continuing education seminar was held for cosmetology instructors (none is required for cosmetologists).  Rev. Freddie Lee Phillips, Jr., the subject of our most recent feature, informed us that considerable concern had been raised about two issues by folk in attendance at the seminar.  Accordingly, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, we sent a general email to Marceaux asking about #1) the removal of finger curls from the practical portion of the exam for licensure, and #2) word that body cameras had been suspended.

One of these days we’re going to get around to a feature about upheaval about the removal of the finger curls, but today’s focus is obviously on the suspension of the use of the body cameras.

Marceaux responded mere hours after our inquiry:

I am in receipt of your concerns. Is this a public records request? Just wanted clarity since you are intending to publish. 

Realizing that we’d obviously uncovered a hot button item, we responded hours after Marceaux’s inquiry of us:

No, it is not a public records request, and I am merely affording you the opportunity to comment if you are so inclined.

Becoming obvious that this was going to be a game of cat and mouse, Marceaux responded:

The use of body cameras has been suspended at this time.

That prompted Burns to make a formal public records request for all emails either received from or sent to anyone affiliated with the LSBC regarding body cameras since the start of 2026.  That’s when we hit proverbial “paydirt!”

For those who would like to read all of the emails in their entireties, feel free to do so at this link.  After learning that the body cameras were ordered suspended directly by the highest authority in the State of Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry, Marceaux inquires of Tisha Butler and Deborah Johnson whether either of them has received complaints about the body cameras, to which they both indicate that they “have not.”

Let’s begin by providing this February 20, 2026 email from Marceaux to all of her key staffers indicating that use of body cameras by inspectors must, “cease effective immediately.”

Okay.  So, on February 2, 2026, Marceaux states how “wonderful” the body cameras are, yet a mere 18 days later she informs all of her upper brass that their use must, “cease immediately.”  That’s a pretty strong 180, huh?

Next, we’d like to supply this March 4, 2026 email from Reham Toom, owner of The Beaux Heaux, LLC voicing extreme frustration at LSBC inspector Edrin Brumfield.  Interestingly enough, Toom is not happy at all that there’s no body camera footage of the encounter.  Here’s a few highlights from Toom’s correspondence to Marceaux:

I am writing to provide a statement regarding my interaction with State Board Inspector Edrin during her inspection of my business, The Beaux Heaux LLC, on March 4, 2026.

Almost immediately, Inspector Edrin began speaking in an accusatory tone, questioning my explanations and repeatedly implying that I was lying. She accused me of having dirty bowls, which is not accurate, because I have not performed any color services.

Throughout the inspection, she asked multiple questions rapidly without allowing me to fully answer, repeatedly getting visibly upset and scolding me for casual language like “girl” and stating I must use “ma’am” or her first name. When I explained that her tone was stressing me out, she began using terms of endearment, which contradicted her previous corrections and added to my discomfort. At one point, she stated that, because I do not currently have a salon license, I would need to go before the Board for a hearing. This statement caused me significant stress and anxiety, as I felt my license could be at risk despite my explanations.  I initially allowed the inspection to continue because I knew I had done nothing wrong. However, her continued accusatory tone, refusal to let me explain, and focus on the possibility of a board hearing became overwhelming. I asked her to leave, stating that I was unable to continue under these conditions as this is added stress on top of how home life has been recently, but she refused to leave immediately.  I wish this inspection had included a body camera, as is normally used, so that my side of the interaction could be accurately documented.  The way this inspection was conducted made me feel intimidated, stressed, and unable to communicate effectively, and I am concerned that without proper documentation, my statements could be misrepresented or disregarded.

Perhaps upon receipt of the March 4, 2026 email referenced above, LSBC Chairman Jennifer Cobb-Reed sends an email to Louisiana  House Speaker Phillip DeVillier citing the “frustration” of the suspension of the body cameras and seeking to have reconsideration of Gov. Landry’s decision.  Here’s highlights of that email:

From: jennifer reed <[email protected]>
Date: March 8, 2026 at 10:31:10 PM CDT
To: Phillip Devillier <Pdevillier@leg~ggy>
Subject: Inspector body cameras

I hope this email finds you well, Phillip.

There has been a bit of frustration and a need for understanding and clarity regarding a situation that developed about two weeks ago. It began with a phone call to Jean Pitre, one of our board members, from Ryan Roberts, who was in Washington, D.C. with the Governor. Ryan stated that the Governor said to immediately cease operations of the body cameras that we had implemented for our inspectors during inspections of our licensees. The cameras had only been implemented approximately one month prior. The only explanation given was that the Governor had received several complaints and was tired of hearing about it.

As Chairman, neither I nor Erin Marceaux, the Executive Director of the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, have received a formal cease and desist regarding the use of body cameras for our inspections from the Governor’s Office, nor were we provided with any report outlining complaints related to the body cameras.

Out of respect for the Governor’s Office, we temporarily ceased the use of the cameras. Our Executive Director, Erin Marceaux, also reached out to Emily Andrews for a possible explanation and clarification of what transpired, seeing that our office has not received any complaints regarding the implementation of the body cameras. Emily then asked Erin to send her a timeline and the reasons for their implementation. Erin and I composed an email, per Emily’s request, that I will share with you. We have still not received a formal response.

It is our hope that once a better line of communication is established and our efforts toward transparency and accountability are acknowledged for what they are truly intended to be, this matter can be resolved. Our goal is to move forward, with the Governor’s approval, in implementing body cameras for our inspectors during inspections of our license holders.

Your support and guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. I will also forward Erin’s email to Emily so you can better understand the reasoning behind the implementation of the body cameras.

Thank you in advance,

Jennifer Reed, Chairman
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology

Notice the reference to Ryan Roberts above.  Both he and John Kay are former high-ranking officials of the Landry administration; however, they have now both departed Landry’s administration and launched their own lobbying firm, Neutral Ground Solutions, LLC.

Apparently deciding that the “courtesy” afforded to Gov. Landry in “temporarily” suspending the body cameras may be far more than “temporary,” (has anyone known Landry to reverse course on any position he takes?), on April 21, 2026, Deborah Johnson sends this email to Halo seeking if a cancellation may be available in light of Gov. Landry’s decision.  Johnson indicates that, “we are hopeful the Governor may reconsider,” but she states that the Board wants to know its options if Landry holds firm.

We believe we know Landry well enough that Landry will:  #1) most definitely hold firm, and #2) ignore both Reed and Marceaux’s requests for a formal written Cease and Desist of the use of the body cameras.  Landry is much like Trump in that regard (i.e. “You’ll do it because I said to!”).

That is the power of being Governor of the State of Louisiana, and it’s our firm opinion that Gov. Landry will remain Governor of Louisiana through early 2032 and be reelected by a landslide! 

Why?  Because we firmly believe that the 2027 “race” for Governor will be a repeat of the 2011 “race” entailing Gov. Jindal’s reelection. 

The only difference is that Jindal’s $12 million war chest scared off any viable contender.  Landry has something much more powerful than Jindal’s war chest (though Landry is going to have plenty of money available as well):  he has the major overhang of the certainty of a Trump endorsement! 

We firmly believe that (other potential candidates’ knowledge of the certainty of a Trump endorsement) explains why no prospective candidate is even talking about taking on Landry, and therefore the 2027 “race” for Governor will be a repeat of the 2011 “race” entailing Jindal. 

Thus, though Landry may have strong negatives and low popularity (just as Jindal had), he will breeze to reelection since no other viable contender will even enter the race!

At any rate, Halos responded that, “we would need to review the official notice from the state to better understand the directive and its implications.”  Both the LSBC and Halos can expect that “full official notice” about the time hell freezes over, so, in our firm opinion, they can just continue writing those $750/month checks for the full three years of that contract.  Our guess is that Landry would indicate that, with a 40 percent fee increase, that Board has plenty of money (which it does) and likely admonish them to check with him the next time a “major” decision like this is undertaken.  We feel certain as well that Landry does not appreciate the email to DeVillier (or, excuse us, “Phillip”) seeking to have Landry reverse course.

Because this feature is becoming a tad long, we’re going to make this a two-parter.  Trust us, you’re going to want to stay tuned to the second part!

You’ll start to see material that will be mind blowing about reactions far beyond Toom’s reaction depicted above!

In fact Toom was extremely polite compared to the massive feedback regarding another LSBC inspector!

Furthermore, there is a reason our headline is so short.  In the second feature, we’ll expand the headline to demonstrate just how angry many salon owners are!

Rev. Freddie Lee Phillips, Jr. addresses the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology (LSBC) on Monday, August 3, 2026 regarding an NPR feature entailing, “close to a half a million (student) borrowers claiming they were ‘ripped off’;” and further admonishing the LSBC Members that, if he is treated differently than Caucasian audience members, and particularly referencing Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns, that the newly-hired EBRP Sheriff Deputy, whom Phillips strongly believes was hired specifically because of his recent attendance at meetings, will, “have to escort me out of here!”

On Monday, August 3, 2026, Rev. Freddie Phillips addressed the LSBC regarding this NPR article published on July 31, 2026 entitled, “450K borrowers say they were ripped off. Their student loans are being erased.”

The article, written by education reporter Cory Turner, details the near-resolution of a years-long class-action lawsuit that will erase federal student loan debt for roughly 450,000 borrowers who claimed they were defrauded.  Phillips asserts such fraud is rampant regarding for profit cosmetology schools across the U. S. and, as we have previously published here as well as this article we published prior to that one, President Trump and his U. S. Department of Education are in strong agreement with Phillips.  We’ll be publishing a feature on the final outcome of the “gainful employment” initiative by the Trump Administration in a later feature.

For today, however, the case Rev. Phillips spoke with the LSBC about was originally filed in 2019 as Sweet v. DeVos against the first Trump administration’s Education Department (under Secretary Betsy DeVos), challenging the government’s handling of “borrower defense” claims.

This federal provision allows students to seek cancellation of loans if schools misled them about matters such as job placement rates, earnings potential, credit transferability, or program value. Advocates alleged that under DeVos the department systematically stalled processing of claims and denied many without proper review. The suit continued across administrations, becoming Sweet v. Cardona under Biden and Sweet v. McMahon under the second Trump administration’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

In 2022, the Biden administration settled the case. The agreement provided automatic full relief for borrowers who attended a predetermined list of more than 150 mostly for-profit colleges and opened a limited post-settlement window for more than 250,000 additional borrowers to apply. The Department was required to review those new claims by set deadlines or discharge the loans automatically. By the time of related court filings, the Department had already provided about $12 billion in discharges and/or refunds to nearly 300,000 borrowers.

The second Trump administration later sought an additional 18 months to review remaining applications, arguing the need to ensure only meritorious claims received taxpayer-funded relief and that the settlement deadline was unrealistic. On July 17, 2026, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the request. The court noted that the settlement’s obligations had been clear from the outset and that the Department had waited three years to raise its objections. This ruling effectively ends the legal fight and triggers completion of the remaining discharges.

Once fully implemented, the settlement is expected to affect more than 450,000 people and improve their personal finances by more than $23 billion—making it the largest class-action settlement ever against the U.S.

With that objective explanation of the linked article above, let’s now watch Phillips address the LSBC about not only the content of students being “ripped off,” but also of what Phillips claims is disparate treatment afforded to him by the LSBC vs. other audience members (specifically referencing Sound Off Louisiana’s Burns), and informing them in no uncertain terms that he has no intention of tolerating that treatment going forward:

8/3/26:  Phillips provides a synopsis of the article referenced above and states unequivocally that he’s not going to tolerate what he assesses as disparate treatment which he receives vis-a-vis other members of the public.

We’re going to draw everyone’s attention to the far right of the video of Rev. Phillips’ presentation.  What is present on that right-hand side of the screen is an EBRP Sheriff Deputy, for which the LSBC, beginning with the May 2026 meeting, decided to begin paying $180 per meeting to “monitor the meetings.”  We made public records requests for any email correspondence pertaining to the employment of a Sheriff Deputy for meetings, and the only documents deemed responsive to our request is correspondence entailing the contract between the Board and the EBRP Sheriff’s Department.  Accordingly, we can only assume that any discussion(s) about hiring the Sheriff Deputy transpired via voice over telephone calls and/or text messages.

As clearly stated on the contract, the alleged purpose of hiring the Sheriff Deputy is to “monitor the meetings;” however, Phillips, who didn’t mince his words on the above video, is of the firm opinion that a Sheriff Deputy was retained in order to demonstrate the Board’s resolve that he, unlike other public members (to include Burns), will not be permitted to make any statement or pose any question after public comment period has expired.  Phillips’ words speak for themselves, so we won’t add to them or subtract from them in this feature.

What we will do, however, is present strong evidence via video as to why Phillips would be so sensitive to the hiring of a Sheriff Deputy for the meetings.  To do that, we are going to state upfront that the following videos are a personal embarrassment to Burns!  Not because of anything Burns ever did or said while serving as a Member of former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Louisiana Auctioneer Licensing Board (LALB), but rather the conduct of his colleagues on the Board.

First a quick background.  Phillips was the first (and for a very long time, only) African American auctioneer in the history of Louisiana.  He obtained his auction license almost 20 years ago, and newly-elected Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal immediately pounced on the fact that he would be able to “provide diversity” on the LALB, and so he immediately named Phillips to the LALB (fresh off obtaining his auction license).

The reaction among the auctioneer community, particularly the white auctioneers in North Louisiana, was, we’ll be polite, not good!

One of the first actions of the LALB upon Phillips’ arrival was to do just as the LSBC has done and retain an EBRP Sheriff Deputy for the meetings.  Furthermore, the LALB did precious little to even attempt to hide the fact that they had retained the Sheriff Deputy as a direct result of Phillips’ presence.  Here’s a video where Board Attorney Anna Dow, repeatedly asked Phillips if he was “carrying a weapon,” and upon Phillips refusing to answer because he indicated he was being “singled out” for the question, stated he was “not going to answer that question!”  That caused then-LALB Chairman Tessa Steinkamp and Board Attorney Anna Dow to look toward EBRP Sheriff Deputy Ronald Landry as if to make an unspoken request that he remove Phillips from the meeting in light of his response.  Here’s the video:

After first hiring a Sheriff Deputy, which Phillips claims was a result of his LALB Membership, the LALB sought to enact a rule whereby anyone attending meetings would be “subject to search,” to which Phillips objected, especially on the basis of him being repeatedly singled out and asked, “Are you carrying a weapon?” by the attorney for the Board, Anna Dow.  The still photo on the video above reflects then-LALB Chairman Tessa Steinkamp seeking to have EBRP Deputy Ronald Landry remove Phillips from the meeting for declining to answer the question.

Now, as disgusting as the preceding video is, it gets even worse, folks!  Phillips sought to attend the annual National Auctioneer’s Association Convention and represent auctioneers from Louisiana.  Historically, attendance at the Convention has never been an issue for a sitting LALB Member.  If he or she sought to attend, the Board approved such attendance, and the expenses the Member incurred in terms of travel and lodging were always covered by the Board.  Of course, that was in the pre-Phillips days.  When Phillips sought to attend the Convention, former LALB Chairman Delmar “Buster” Gay flat out told him he adamantly opposed such attendance by Phillips, citing the fact that, “you may be an embarrassment to the State.”  Here’s an audio file (Burns was on the LALB at the time, so there’s no video file; furthermore, it is Burns’ voice heard questioning Gay as to him believing Phillips may be an “embarrassment,”  but the audio file says it all):

Former LALB Chairman Delmar “Buster” Gay states his adamant opposition to having Phillips attend the NAA Convention because he may be an, “embarassment to the State.”

Just for the record, the “derogatory remark” which Gay references was made at a prior convention was actually made by his neighbor and friend, Ray Camp, who served as a “Consumer Member” on the Board.  Gay indicated he would, “not go into detail,” but we will.  A brief lecture was provided to attendees on the perils of sexual harassment in the workplace.  When the female concluded her presentation and asked if there were any questions, Camp raised his hand and asked, “Harass, is that one word or two?”  The female presenter failed to see the “humor” of the question, and that is why Camp was “censured.”

We’ll also point out that Gov. Jindal removed Camp from the LALB once the former Executive Director, Sherrie Wilks, reported him for double-dipping on his travel voucher.  Wilks also provided highly credible evidence that Gay had done the same identical thing as Camp; however, Gov. Jindal opted to merely strip Gay of his Chairmanship but let him continue as a regular auctioneer Member of the LALB.

Now, in Phillips’ video above addressing the LSBC, he indicates that he’ll have the (mainstream) media at a Cosmetology Board Meeting if the disparate treatment he alleges is transpiring continues.  That’s precisely what he did with the LALB based on videos he provided to the late-Paul Gates, a long-time investigative reporter for WAFB.  Gates showed up unannounced and had his cameraman film a segment of the LALB meeting, after which he interviewed the Chairman and Attorney about Phillips’ treatment.  Here’s that video:

WAFB (Channel 9 in Baton Rouge) shows up to interview LALB Members and its attorney about treatment which has been afforded to Phillips as videotaped by Burns, provided to Phillips who, in turn, supplied the videos to then-WAFB investigative reporter, Paul Gates.

Unfortunately, days after appearing with his cameraman at the LALB meeting, Gates informed Phillips that he’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was therefore retiring, and the WAFB feature never actually aired, but we believe folk across the WAFB viewing area would have been stunned at the antics of the LALB.

Now, Phillips was formally voted down by the LALB for attending the NAA Convention, with only Phillips himself and Burns voting in favor of sending him.  Thereafter, in a routine public records request made for invoices of LALB attorney Anna Dow, Phillips uncovered that she had attended the same meeting he wished to attend, that she’d gotten no Board approval for doing so, and that then-Chairman Ken Comer (Gay had opted to “retire” from the LALB soon after the travel voucher incident) wrote on her invoice “approved” and signed the invoice wherein she billed the Board for attending at the conference (a multi-day affair).  He openly confronted both Dow and Comer about that matter, and let’s just say it was not pretty.  Here’s that video:

Phillips confronts then-LALB Chairman Ken Comer and Board Attorney Anna Dow about Dow’s billing for attending the NAA Convention without any Board approval after his efforts to attend the same Convention were defeated by a vote of 5-2.

Now, as is apparent from the above video, both Dow and Comer repeatedly threaten to sue Phillips!  In one of the most asinine actions Burns has ever seen in his life, Board Attorney Anna Dow actually followed up her groundless foundation for any such lawsuit by mailing Phillips this letter for “slander and invasion of privacy demand.”  In the letter, she demands a retraction by Phillips, to which Phillips responded that he, “was not about to retract anything,” and he further stood by his contentions that he stated on the above video.  Furthermore, Phillips reached out to the Office of Risk Management and sought to alert that Office as well as the Attorney General’s Office of his need for defense counsel in the event of an actual Dow and/or Comer lawsuit.

Gov. Jindal’s Office was not pleased with the above video to say the least!  Accordingly, that was then-Chairman Comer’s final LALB meeting.  He went quietly in the night, and no explanation was ever given for his abrupt departure; however, a source in which Burns has the utmost of confidence told Burns, “Gov. Jindal’s Office stated that they would not be tolerant of any Member of any Board or Commission openly threatening to sue another Member during a meeting.”

At the end of Jindal’s first term, Phillips informed Gov. Jindal that there was “no way” he would serve a second term on the LALB, so Phillips simply resigned as Jindal’s first term neared an end.  That did not mean, however, that Phillips was done dealing with the LALB (just as we can assure Cosmetology Board Members, he’s not even close to being done “dealing” with them).  He continued to attend meetings, make public comments, and be filmed making those comments.

At one point, the LALB had a massive amount of money on its hands (about four years’ worth of licensing fees), so Phillips proposed a “$5 renewal fee for in-state, resident auctioneers” for the next several years to reduce the large fund balance.  The normal renewal fee for Louisiana auctioneers is $150, and it is $300 for out-of-state auctioneer businesses.  Louisiana had back then a significant number of out-of-state auctioneers registered at the LALB, and Burns requested an Attorney General opinion on which fees could be reduced.  The opinion came back stating that in-state fees could be reduced because of the use of the word “may;” however, out-of-state fees could not be reduced because of the word “shall.”

We can assure anyone that, had that idea for a $5 in-state renewal fee originated by a “prominent” auctioneer like the late-Marvin Henderson (NAA Hall of Fame Member notwithstanding felony conviction entailing mail fraud entailing an Alabama auction), auctioneers would have cheered it on so loudly that the cheers would have burst eardrums.  Since the idea came from Phillips, however, here are the sentiments of both the LALB and, more importantly, audience members who showed up to speak against Phillips’ proposal (and, as the video shows, it got u-g-l-y):

Audience Members express their disapproval of Phillips’ proposed “$5 auction license renewal fee,” with one such audience member, Chris Lemoine, placing a sheet of paper between Phillips’ camera and auctioneer Barbara Bonnette as she sought to express her disapproval of Phillips’ proposal.

At the first meeting that Phillips failed to attend after departing the LALB (they moved the meeting up, not back, without notifying anyone, so Burns too missed the meeting), two LALB Members decided to get “cute” and respond to the roll call, with Phillips absent for that first time with, “I’s here.”  Here’s that audio (no video since neither Burns nor Phillips had any clue the meeting even transpired):

LALB Members James Sims and Greg Bordelon respond to the LALB roll call with “I’s here” causing chuckling after the roll call ended.

By now, virtually anyone can probably surmise that Phillips was not pleased at all when he got the recording of the meeting which, for the record, despite being a piece of cake to supply, required nearly 30 days to obtain via a public records request.  So, what did he do?  He contacted The Advocate reporter Ted Griggs, who investigated the matter, after which he published this article for which Gov. Jindal promised an Inspector General investigation into the incident.  The Inspector General did conduct an investigation, and a subsequent article was published by Griggs entailing the Inspector General’s investigation.  As is apparent from the article, the best “explanations” Sims and Bordelon could come up with was Sims saying that, “my diabetes and dentures sometimes cause things to come out wrong,” and Bordelon, who initially emphatically denied saying, “I’s here too,” adding (upon Griggs providing the irrefutable proof above that he certainly did make the utterance), “it was a friendly mocking of Sims,” and buttressing his claim in characterizing Sims as, “a North Louisiana redneck.”

When former Gov. John Bel Edwards defeated then-U. S. Senator David Vitter in the 2015 Gubernatorial race, Phillips felt things would be different, so he opted to apply once again to be on the LALB.  Edwards wasted no time naming Phillips to the Board.  The result was an avalanche (and we do mean avalanche) of emails to State Senators from Louisiana licensed auctioneers urging the Senators not to confirm Phillips’ appointment.  Edwards just made their job easier by rescinding Phillips’ appointment 20 days after he publicly announced Phillips’ appointment.  Phillps told Burns to meet him at the Baton Roug Press Club because he (Phillips) intended to directly confront Edwards about his action.  Here’s video of Phillips doing so:

Phillips confronts Gov. Edwards about Edwards’ abrupt removal of Phillips from the LALB only 20 days after issuing a press release touting Phillips’ appointment.

Now, we are under no illusions that the LSBC would ever stoop as low as the LALB (and auctioneers throughout Louisiana) did on the videos above; however, we can empathize with Phillips’ belief that the EBRP Sheriff Deputy was hired as a result of his recent practice of attending every meeting.  If, by any chance whatsoever, the LSBC Members even remotely begin to conduct themselves in a manner similar to the LALB (and Phillips submits they already have started down that road), our only advice is:  “Stop!”  Phillips can and will attract attention to the Board that they will wish they never had!

Finally, at the beginning of the Landry administration, a prominent member of Landry’s staff (we aren’t going to name him), reached out to Burns and encouraged him to submit an application to fill a vacancy on the LALB for a “consumer” position.  Burns mustered as much professionalism and courtesy as he possibly could in communicating his appreciation for the offer but that Burns was going to “respectfully decline.”  We’ll close by pointing out that, 2-1/2 years later, the position remains vacant.  Anybody interested in stepping right up to the plate and applying?

East Baton Rouge Parish (EBRP) District Attorney (DA) Hillar Moore poses recently displaying his membership into the Baton Rouge Chapter of 100 Black Men (photo courtesy of Baton Rouge Activist Gary Chambers’ Tik Tok feature.)

In our most recent feature, EBRPDA Hillar Moore indicated that he “leans against” having cameras in courtrooms (though he did equivocate in our interview of him after his appearance before the Baton Rouge Press Club – BRPC).

As Moore’s appearance neared an end, one BRPC Member asked Moore about the role of the DA with the Baton Rouge Chapter of 100 Black Men.  Moore responded, and BRPC host Bill Bryant indicated there was time for one more question, but nobody raised a hand to pose one.  Accordingly, Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns indicated he’d “follow up” on the question entailing 100 Black Men.  We are going to provide the video of Moore responding to both questions shortly.

First, however, most folk who live in Baton Rouge or are from South Louisiana have almost assuredly heard of community activist Gary Chambers.  He is extensively involved in Louisiana politics and has himself run both for a U. S. Congress seat and, more recently, he challenged incumbent U. S. Senator John Kennedy in the 2024 election for U. S. Senate.

Chambers is known for being controversial, and he also doesn’t mince his words on how he assesses a matter.  Before we provide Moore’s responses, let’s provide video of Chambers lambasting the Baton Rouge Chapter of 100 Black Men for admitting Moore as a Member and his strong focus on the timing of such admittance mere months before Moore’s upcoming reelection effort in November:

7/18/26:  Chambers lambasts the Baton Rouge Chapter of 100 Black Men for having EBRPDA Hillar Moore “join the club” only months before Moore’s reelection effort this November.

That would be a pretty authoritative rebuke of Baton Rouge’s Chapter of 100 Black Men, no?  Now, here is video of Moore being provided an initial question regarding 100 Black Men for which Moore responds, after which Burns, since nobody else had a question to close the event, opted to have Moore respond to Chambers’ allegations about the timing of Moore’s joining 100 Black Men:

7/27/26:  Moore first responds to a softball question on his involvement with the Baton Rouge Chapter of 100 Black Men, after which Burns asks Moore to respond to Chambers’ allegations in the first video above.

Our viewers can decide for themselves regarding Chambers’ allegations about the timing of Moore’s membership in 100 Black Men and whether that timing had anything to do with the challenge by black opponent Ryan Thompson in November.

Since Moore does indicate that Thompson also joined 100 Black Men (along with EBRP Mayor-President Sid Edwards) at the same time as Moore, let’s provide a little more background on Thompson:

Ryan K. Thompson is a Baton Rouge attorney and public defender who is the first challenger in nearly two decades to longtime EBRPDA Hillar C. Moore III in the November 2026 election. Both are Democrats.  Moore has held the office since 2009 without opposition after his initial 2008 win over former Orleans Parish Assistant DA Dan Claitor, who subsequently prevailed in his quest to become a Louisiana State Senator.

Thompson, whose approximate age was 44-45 at the time of his October 2025 announcement, was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and he was raised in the Inglewood/Compton area of California. He earned a B.S. in criminal justice (with a sociology minor) from Southern Utah University on an athletic scholarship, where he helped found the Black Student Association and a Kappa Alpha Psi colony. He later obtained a Master of Public Health in Urban Health Disparities from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center in 2019. He also completed Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) coursework.

He and his wife moved to Baton Rouge in 2015 with their daughters for graduate studies, and the family stayed after law school. Professionally, he has worked as a Section Lead/Assistant Public Defender in the EBRP Public Defender’s Office, handling serious felony cases and supervising litigation. He directs the Thompson Justice Institute (a civil practice focused on constitutional rights and accountability) and has represented plaintiffs in suits against the city-parish over alleged police abuses at the now-shuttered “BRAVE Cave” interrogation facility. Earlier roles included advocacy on child welfare (via an Obama-era grant with California’s Department of Children and Family Services), community organizing on environmental issues, and serving as deputy campaign manager for Gary Chambers’ 2021 Congressional bid.

Campaign and Platform

Thompson announced his candidacy in October 2025, criticizing crime levels during Moore’s tenure (noting Baton Rouge’s deadliest years on record, with homicides peaking at 149 in 2021 before declining but remaining elevated relative to earlier periods) and calling for “fresh eyes, new ideas, and a renewed commitment to fairness and safety.” His platform emphasizes:

• Aggressive prosecution of violent crime while applying the law fairly and without bias or political influence.
• Accountability, transparency, and rebuilding public trust in the justice system.
• Supporting victims/families, using prosecutorial discretion responsibly, and partnering with law enforcement and communities on root causes (drawing on his public-health background).
• Equal justice under the law.

His campaign website frames him as a grassroots candidate focused on integrity and measurable results. He has been door-knocking and organizing with support from figures like Gary Chambers, who has long criticized Moore. Qualifying is this upcoming week, and the primary/general is November 3 (with a possible December runoff).

Notable Exchange with Moore

In June 2026, the two clashed publicly over a hate-crime case involving a 13-year-old boy allegedly in KKK garb who painted racist messages and carved a swastika on a neighbor’s property in Central. Moore’s office charged the teen with hate crimes. Thompson (representing the victim in a related civil suit) held a news conference with the NAACP, urged additional charges (e.g., stalking/terrorism), and called for greater transparency. Moore accused a participant of advancing a political narrative and creating a false account of the case.  Thompson replied that the focus should stay on justice for the family.

Moore, about 70, has highlighted initiatives on domestic violence, sexual assault, opioids, and violence reduction (e.g., Stop the Loss, TRUCE) while dealing with ongoing office funding disputes (including a lawsuit against the city-parish for more resources after a failed tax proposal). Thompson positions himself as an outsider to the prosecutor’s office with defense and civil-rights experience who can deliver both public safety and fairness.

With the BRPC’s invitation of Moore to appear before it to present his case for reelection, Thompson is bound to receive an invitation to appear in the near future as well.  We look forward to providing coverage of his appearance just as we did for Moore’s appearance six (6) days ago.