Staff Report
On Tuesday, February 7, 2017, Evangeline Parish District Attorney Trent Bignac released a statement regarding a news brief that ran in Sunday's edition of the Ville Platte Gazette.
The release reads:
"On Sunday, February 5,2017, the Ville Platte Gazette published a notification of a "Town Hall
Meeting for Justice* which was to supposedly take place Thursday, February 9,2017. The meeting was
even the subject of the "Poll Question" for the upcoming week. KVPl also publicized this meeting.
The problem is that at least five (5) of the elected officials (and/or offices) named as attending
the meeting had never been invited to the meeting and knew absolutely nothing about the meeting and
in fact were completely unaware that there was even talk of such a meeting. These elected officials
include myself (District Attorney Trent Brignac), the two (2) District Judges, Judge Gary Ortego and Judge
Chuck West, Ville Platte City Court Judge Gregory Vidrine and Sheriff Eddie Soileau.
How can any of us commit to a meeting that we are not aware of and have not been invited to
attend?
More significantly, it concerns me that misleading the public about such a meeting could have a
negative effect on the very issue the meeting intended to address. For example, if members of the
public attend based upon misinformation and public officials are not present because they have not
been invited, what effect does this have on public trust and confidence and who's fault is it?
Factually inaccurate statements by the media in general (by no means only the Ville Platte
Gazette and KVPl) do not help unite the community and its public officials. By no means does this
suggest the announcement of the meeting was not well intended, we all make mistakes.
With the above said, it's my sincere intention that we move forward into this new year with a
positive attitude and a willingness to work together and communicate with each other for the benefit of
everyone in Evangeline Parish.
SOURCE: EVANGELINE PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRENT BRIGNAC
DATE: February 7,2017"