Kenner politicians, top aides get enhanced benefits
by Mary Sparacello - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Aaron Broussard's time as Kenner mayor ended in 1995, Phil Capitano's in 2006. Nick Baroni left the City Council 15 years ago, Terry McCarthy five years ago. Yet all four, along with five other politicians and political appointees who once worked at Kenner City Hall, are still covered by the city's health and life insurance plans. The health benefits for those former employees cost Kenner taxpayers about $35,000 per year, part of an "executive pay plan" for politicians and political appointees. Current city officials say the plan dates to 1991 or earlier and is designed to entice people into public service, where public officials and high-level employees are subject to losing their jobs at the end of every election cycle. "The public sector can't match what the private sector can pay," said Mayor Ed Muniz, who took office in 2006. The executive plan covers elected officials such as the mayor, City Council members and the police chief, as well as the fire chief, council clerk and council clerk administrator, the mayor's executive assistants and administrators, city attorneys, department directors and assistant directors. Currently nine former Kenner officials are still receiving the benefits.