Congressional Candidate’s Hands too Spicy to Touch Wallet

My name is Steven Boulet. I’m 27, and I work wholes-selling crawfish in South Louisiana, but what I’m passionate about is food. I LOVE to feed people and for the last few years, I’ve worked catering as a side hustle hoping to one day be a true professional. I especially love to boil crawfish. I’ve done pop-up crawfish boils in front yards selling a couple of hundred pounds hoping to promote and grow my catering business. It’s been hard to try breaking into, but I love doing it so not a second has been wasted.

Earlier this March I was approached to boil crawfish for congressional Candidate Verone Thomas at a fundraiser. I helped them plan every detail of the actual event from what they would need to how to package crawfish for sale. I spent days preparing, hours in discussion with his team helping them understand the details of what would be required on their part, and even provided tables and chairs for them at no cost. At the peak of the season, I boiled 600 pounds of crawfish, 200 corn and potatoes, and made 150 servings of dip for Verone’s campaign; for the predetermined price of 1800 dollars. I was working for free essentially but in the hopes of a successful event and future business.

The fundraiser was a disaster. They’d decided on a date and location that was the same as another crawfish boil in Gerard Park and had hundreds of pounds of leftover crawfish. In empathy and good faith I even gave them an additional $130 discount. I was on location for almost 8 hours before helping them package it up, even providing containers and a loaned ice chest for transport.

I met with his treasurer two days later to collect payment and was given 875.00, everything they’d made from actual sales. She told me in near tears she felt forced to resign by Verone’s behavior at the event and leading up to it. His lack of accountability, focus, and work ethic (my observations and her implications) pushed her and his campaign manager beyond their ability to reconcile supporting him. They both resigned.

I would have to get the remaining balance from him she said. I started to feel that cold ball in your stomach that forms when you know you’re on the precipice of something awful. Verone told me his staff had stolen the money from the fundraiser (they didn’t, I was there the whole time and saw what they made. They sold less than a quarter of what they’d ordered and there was no money to steal) and his lawyers were looking into it. I tried calling him; he wouldn’t answer. I sent messages asking him to pay his bill; he wouldn’t respond. After two weeks I messaged him I would be forced to publicize his negligence if he continued to ignore me; He continued to ignore me.

I published pictures of the boil, my attempted conversations with him, and a brief explanatory statement. It was even picked up by the local paper, who he did respond to, where he continued to blame his former staff and accuse them and me of theft. I have never in my life had the misfortune to encounter a pathological liar like Verone Thomas. An article in the BayouRising (https://www.bayoubrief.com/2018/07/16/doubting-thomas-the-quixotic-congressional-campaign-of-bossarone-patron/) highlighted his insanity as he publicly blamed: running from the cops while high on a seizure; a domestic abuse conviction and months of probation in California as racism; and accused Elon Musk of stealing the idea for the Hyperloop from him.

He also accuses me and his former staff members of colluding to steal the money from him. He’s sent gloating and taunting messages to me; publicly claimed, “let’s just say he got paid,” and numerous times accused me of theft while refusing to pay his bill, but responded to a reporter who picked up the story with:

“I feel like the guy did a good job,” Thomas said. “I’m glad he was able to do it, but the numbers and the agreement are in question.”

(You can find that story here:https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2018/05/01/fundraiser-fail-candidate-caterer-odds-over-crawfish-cost/569837002/)

About a month ago I was contacted by a member of the Democratic Party in Lake Charles, Heather Ames, who introduced me to one of Verone’s opponents, Rob Anderson. Rob had heard about the story and wanted to make it right because: “It’s the right thing to do.” That’s it. The ONLY but SIGNIFICANT positive from meeting Verone Thomas has been Rob. Rob’s campaign paid Verone’s bill last Thursday because they felt it was the right thing to do. He told me he wanted to change peoples perceptions of politicians, starting with mine.

They didn’t ask for anything in return and made a point of emphasizing their lack of expectation. Rob even agreed to be a guest on the podcast I produce for fun, Young Dumb and Full of Curiosity (YDFC), and after almost 4 hours of intense conversation, I’d consider us friends. He even as my vote even though we disagree about a lot. There are political impasses between our perspectives, but the way Rob thinks and his integrity have won me over. I’ve never in my life done anything but denigrate politicians and their fanatical supporters, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Rob can do when he gets the chance.

You can find the videos of our conversations @BouletMusic on FB:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrkddIJOHrk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45MggmjIQNc

and the podcast at

http://www.aocinc.org/ydfc/.