BUT DID THEY VIOLATE THE LAW?
|| By FITSNEWS || Remember that well-connected advertising company that gets an exclusive state contract? The one which employs John Hardee – the son-in-law of powerful S.C. Senator Hugh Leatherman?
If not, click here …
Well guess what … the shadiness is getting, well, shadier. According to reporter Rick Brundrett of The Nerve (a.k.a. the guy who exposed the contract), this same company’s parent – Lamar Advertising – recently hosted a dinner reception for S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) commissioners (including Hardee) at its corporate headquarters.
And the event itself was sponsored by South Carolina Logos Inc. – the company which got the lucrative state deal. FITS was tipped off to this event on the day it took place – February 18 – but we were stonewalled in our bid to confirm it.
“The Commissioners vote on VERY LUCRATIVE advertising contracts on the Interstate information signs at exits, i.e. restaurants, gas etc, and Lamar ends up getting the bids,” our source said at the time. “Then Lamar charges as much as they can get and they give (SCDOT) a cut.”
So what is this company doing hosting a reception for SCDOT commissioners? That’s a good question …
And also last time we checked, when SCDOT commissioners gathered together – the meetings were supposed to be public.
It’s how we know that shady backdoor deals (like the awarding of lucrative contracts to politically connected relatives) aren’t going down …
(Sigh) …
In an interview with The Nerve, Hardee insisted South Carolina Logos, Inc. was not a sponsor of the event – even though it was listed as such on an SCDOT itinerary. He also said he saw “no conflict” with his company receiving the state contract.
Of course he doesn’t … this is just how his family does business.
In other news, The Nerve uncovered evidence of SCDOT commissioners being feted in Charleston, S.C. by an organization pushing an increase in the state gas tax. That event took placed in conjunction with a commission meeting in the Holy City – one in which commissioners approved some other shady contracts.
Business as usual in the banana republic, huh?
9 comments
Charlie Foxtrotting — with smiling faces
Crooked politicians being bought and paid for in SC. Say it ain’t so. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Captain Renault is shocked learn that groups, companies, individuals, etc. actually attempt to curry favor with selection boards. This is ground breaking news. Next you will tell me that there are lobbyists working the legislative halls.
So what is so unusual about this. Been going on for over 50 years.
Thanks Will.
Any and all exclusive or single vendor contracts are nothing but ways to steal money from the state. The only reason why to do something that stupid is to look who put it together. Of course there is a kick back going on here. I remind everyone of the old single vendor state carpet contract Bonitz had until it came to light what was really going on. They got caught in an audit with lots of missing carpet that was paid for, but never ordered, and then they never had to pay it back, got no arrests or charges filed, and the idiots at the heads of our state agencies still use them. Makes you wonder whos getting the $$. Will, you worked for Sanford as a spokesman when it got busted. Perhaps use what you know as a reference as to why its a bad idea.
Is this any different than the constant wining and dining of politicians every week?
How many free meals did will folks gorge upon while he walked those same “halls of power”? Hundreds.
But that was OK then, cause he was the one being feted. Amazing how in almost every case, he was always “for it” before he was “against it”…
I also love how he willfully and deliberately misstates state law in an effort to cast a shadow of illegality over the practice as well. Whether or not its a palatable practice is irrelevant. Its not illegal.
Course all the carion feeders that suckle at his teat will now obligingly run off to their morning biscuit gatherings of the tin foil hat brigades at Hardees and McDonalds and knowingly regurgitate this crap as if its fact.
State Commissioners are not allowed to accept any money from any one doing business with any agency under their supervision. Not even a cup of coffee. These people need to be hauled before the State Ethics Commission. OH RIGHT! We don’t really have an Ethics Commission. Probably too much to ask SLED to do its job and investigate these crooks.
But, since Federal Money is involved in road work projects, the FBI should take a look at this little rookery.