Despite announcing a search for Baton Rouge’s next CAO, none was ever done

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The East Baton Rouge Mayor-President’s office acknowledged today despite engaging Dr. Christel Slaughter and her company to search for a new Chief Administrative Officer, no search was ever conducted.

Dr. Christel Slaughter was named Chief Administrative Officer Thursday evening. The company she owns, SSA Consultants, was set to receive a $50,000 contract to search for the CAO, but after WAFB began asking questions about it back in September, the Mayor’s office said that idea was shelved, and Dr. Slaughter agreed to do the work for free.

This week, WAFB asked for a list of people who applied for the CAO position and documentation tied to the search process.

In a prepared statement to WAFB, a spokesman said, “Since no search was conducted, no search process was