Bombshell email should open airport investigation
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Ever since Mayor Turner threw out those possibly tainted airport bids in February, Houston City Hall has literally shut the door on those who want to find out more?
Turner has refused to release his e-mails, or the e-mails from Parker Administration officials involved in the suspect airport contract process. The Turner administration has even blocked the
release of e-mails involving William Thomas, Parker’s liaison with Houston City Council.
Now an e-mail leaked to Dolcefino Consulting raises serious ethical questions, and shows Houston City Hall is clearly hiding the full airport story from taxpayers and likely meddled in
the choice of a subcontractor for a winning bidder.
“They hoped it would go away by tearing up the deals and supposedly starting over,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “This e-mail screams out for further
investigation. It exposes what companies across town have been screaming. City Hall is trying to manipulate the winners of contracts.”
The e-mail appears to chronicle the direct involvement by the former Houston Mayor’s office and Councilman Dave Martin in the airport proposals during the quiet period while contracts
were being chosen. Marsh, the company Martin works for, was eventually named the winner bidder on one of five contracts. The designated minority subcontractor was to be State Rep. Boris Miles insurance agency.
The former city controller wanted Parker and Martin to sign sworn affidavits about their involvement during his investigation of possible political misconduct. They both refused.
Martin’s affidavit read, “Other than discussions of meetings surrounding my Local Government Officer Conflicts Disclosure Statement (SEPT 16, 2015), I have had no discussions of meetings
with any representative of Marsh U.S.A, Inc., whatsoever, regarding the Houston Airport System request.”
Martin was also asked to swear he hadn’t had any discussions with any City of Houston employee either about the contract.
That’s why the e-mail we have appears to be a smoking gun. It is unlikely the former or current controller ever saw it, and City Hall has refused to release it.
The e-mail trail is dated October 9, 2015. Parker council liaison William Thomas apparently had a job for Councilman Dave Martin. One-minute later Martin responds, “yes working on it
now.”
Three minutes later Councilman Martin reported back, “Just talked to Stephen Skeeter (head of Marsh) and he is sending Mario an e-mail stating Marsh has a 50% MWBE participation with Borris Miles Agency.”
That is not all the Mayor’s office wanted to hear. The following morning bright and early came this response from William Paul Thomas, likely doing the bidding for his boss.
“To be clear, Jefferson has removed from team-please confirm. W-P”
Former NAACP President Howard Jefferson had been part of the approved deal, but this e-mail chain suggests Parker’s folks wanted to make sure he was now out.
The question is why?
Only the former Mayor knows for sure, but Dolcefino Consulting does know Jefferson supported Parker’s opponent in the last Mayor’s race. Was this pure politics? A favor for Borris Miles? All good questions.
There is one more exchange. Martin points out in a follow-up e-mail he was not involved in the RFP process, but has verified Miles is the only MWBE Partner.
Mission accomplished. Now it is clear why Former Controller Green was suspicious.
This e-mail is damaging enough, but the fact the Turner administration is hiding all these critical communications smacks of political cover-up. The new Mayor can order the release of
all airport e-mails tomorrow. That’s real transparency. If he doesn’t, it is clearly business as usual at Houston City Hall.
What else are they hiding?
RELATED DOCUMENTS
– haa affidavits
– MARSH EMAIL 10.15_20160209140031
