Posted on 07/13/2011 9:40:53 AM PDT by CedarDave
How does a company bidding on a $38 million state road contract end up with confidential documents regarding the job? Taxpayers deserve an answer if New Mexico wants its public procurement process to have any credibility.
It is undisputed that FNF Construction, the second-lowest bidder and the company the Richardson administration tried to give the job of rebuilding 18 miles of Interstate 10 south of Las Cruces, got the internal documents.
And, according to the story in Sundays Journal by investigative reporter Colleen Heild, they would have succeeded except that federal officials who held the purse strings balked at the switcheroo.
It is apparent the documents came from an insider, and the new administration says it looks like that insider is former state Transportation Commission Chairman Johnny Cope. One set of documents is attached to what appears to be his personal fax cover sheet, and the pile includes an interoffice memo to him as well as documents to and from his e-mail account.
Cope was a major contributor to Richardson campaigns. So was FNF New Mexico Vice President Paul Wood, a friend of Copes, who with his family and former company gave more than $50K to Richardson campaigns and causes.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Sure seems so. Other ongoing investigations include consideration for a judgeship in return for contributions and large fees going to Richardson contributors for state investment council transactions.
NM list PING! Click on the flag to go to the Free Republic New Mexico message page.
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Why hasn’t Chubby been indicted yet? There is plenty of evidence against him.
Man, Richardson is not in prison YET?
Given his stature (or more honestly his notoriety), he no doubt is reeling in the dough from speaking appearances like his recent stint at Harvard.
Pay to play is a polite way to say “bribery”. It is a felony and all participants should be prosecuted accordingly.
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