Iowa Senate shocker — contracts awarded to Joni Ernst’s father raise conflict of interest questions

[babylonsister]

Tuesday, Oct 7, 2014 06:59 AM EST
EXCLUSIVE: Iowa Senate shocker — contracts awarded to Joni Ernst’s father raise conflict of interest questions
Father of GOP nominee won $200,000 in contracts when Joni Ernst was in office, despite conflict of interest rules


A construction company owned by GOP Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst’s father received more than $200,000 in county contracts while she served as auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa, despite a strict conflict of interest code governing the provision of contracts to family members of county officials.

A new review of records — as well as an analysis of the Code of Iowa — by Salon reveals that the nature of the contracts and how they were promulgated, may have violated relevant county standards.

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The Iowa Code lays out stringent conflict of interest standards for county contracts. Chapter 331 of the code stipulates that “{a}n officer or employee of a county shall not have an interest, direct, or indirect, in a contract with that county.” The provision applies if 5 percent of a company’s outstanding stock is owned by either a county employee or an immediate family member – including a parent – of an employee.
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Still, a search by Salon of Montgomery County records reveals that Culver Construction – a construction company owned by Ernst’s father, Richard Culver – received $215,665 in county contracts during Ernst’s tenure as auditor. The six contracts, all awarded between 2009 and 2010, included five totaling $204,794 from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for such projects as road and flood damage repairs.

more...

http://www.salon.com/2014/10/07/exclusive_contracts_awarded_to_joni_ernsts_father_raise_conflict_of_interest_questions/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. Uh. Oh.

[kimbutgar]

2. This is bigger than Braleys stupid chicken gate.

I want this evil tea bagger women to be soundly defeated.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. It's probably just the tip of the iceberg, too.

Who ignores laws for just one person? I bet we see more stuff like this come out soon. I only hope it's soon enough.

[progressoid]

3. Way to go Salon!

Let's make sure this story gets out there and gets legs!

[Cha]

4. This is Interesting.. I want Bruce Braley to win so badly!

Mahalo babylonsistah

[Bettie]

5. Not surprising

She's a crook, through and through.

I still find it difficult to believe she'll win a state wide race.

I really want to see her lose though.

[Octafish]

6. That Salon! Always journalisming all the time.

Time was when a lot of big media did that.

[Inspired]

7. Just tweeted link to the DM Register, KCCI and WHO TV stations in Des Moines

Ernst cannot win Senator Harkin's seat. Can't. Happen.

[progressoid]

8. DMR has an update from their story.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/02/democratic-operatives-seek-opinions-on-contracts/16595581/

UPDATE: Today, the attorney general says questions about those contracts are not the attorney general's jurisdiction. It will be up to Montgomery County attorney to review them.

In a statement, Ernst campaign spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel said she doesn't think it's a surprise that Braley's "liberal Washington allies would file a frivolous lawsuit to prop up his desperate campaign."

"The fact is that the bid process in Montgomery County is open and transparent. Bids are delivered sealed, opened in a public meeting and awarded to the lowest bider, and the county auditor plays no role in decision making," Hamel said. "Also, she has never had a financial stake in the company."

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. Sounds like the bid process is beside the point. It's all about eligibility.

.

[progressoid]

10. Exactly. Seems pretty clear it's a conflict of interest.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. IOKIYAR

Always has been.

Always will be.