At its meeting last week, the Lafayette Parish Democratic Executive Committee passed what could be known as the Glenn Armentor resolution. The “statement of principle” reads that “ a member of the committee shall not publicly endorse nor publicly support by fundraising activities or by other public activities any officeholder, candidate, or potential candidate for public office who is not registered to vote with the Democratic Party.”

The resolution, effective Jan. 1, 2009, also states that members are “strongly encouraged to abide by the statement of principle set forth herein” but has no penalties attached to it in the event a member does not. “This is a guiding principle on how we expect each other to behave and represent the party,” says committee chairman John Bernhardt. Bernhardt says committee members, who are elected, will always have to answer to voters.

The resolution is nearly identical to one brought up two years ago, but never passed, in response to committee member and local attorney Glenn Armentor hosting a bi-partisan fund-raiser for Republican City-Parish President Joey Durel titled “No Party Party.” Armentor resurrected the event this year, much to the chagrin of many of his fellow committee members, prompting some calls for his censure or resignation from the party leadership board.

The statement of principle resolution was the only action taken regarding Armentor’s actions. The measure passed by a vote of 8 to 1. Vice Chairman Susannah Malbreaux voted against the measure. Member Mike Stagg, who had previously called for Armentor’s resignation, abstained, and four other members were absent from the meeting. Bernhardt says that while he was not in favor of the No Party Party, he was also not in favor of punishing committee members. “We’re about being inclusive and bringing people in and not kicking people out,” he says. Bernhardt adds he hopes to work with Armentor to make No Party Party an annual benefit for a local charity and not for any one political candidate.

Also included in the statement of principle is what could be called the Ken Bouillion clause. A portion of the statement reads that an exception is made for committee members who publicly support or endorse immediate family relatives who may not be Democrats. (Ken Bouillion is married to Judge Francie Bouillion, a registered independent)