NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A government watchdog in New Orleans says he wants to stick around for another four-year term, but the city’s Ethics Review Board may have other ideas.

The board voted 5-0 Monday to begin a national search for candidates for the job, The New Orleans Advocate reported (https://bit.ly/2kaBkER).

Ed Quatrevaux and his supporters have said hiring a search firm would be a waste of money if the board is satisfied with his performance.

Those calling for a national search have argued that evaluating other candidates and comparing Quatrevaux’s performance to theirs would provide better oversight of the office.

Quatrevaux was hired in 2009 and was appointed to another term in 2013.

The Inspector General’s post was created in New Orleans in 2006 to provide the city with an independent office that could examine and investigate the workings of city government. The first person to hold the post, Robert Cerasoli, resigned in January 2009, citing health problems.

Among Quatrevaux’s work that drew widespread attention was his 2014 report outlining mishandling of sex crime cases by some in the New Orleans police department. More recently, he released a report on thefts of $500,000 in brass fittings from the city utility system by employees of the city Sewerage and Water Board.

His disagreements with the city’s independent police monitor, who worked in his office led to the separation of the monitor’s office from the Inspector General.

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Information from: The New Orleans Advocate, https://www.neworleansadvocate.com

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