You remember Bob Damron’s employer, Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, right?
You don’t? Let’s take a stroll down the who-gets-all-the-bonds worm hole…
From the Herald-Leader:
[T]here have been questions about Damron’s employment with Ross Sinclair & Associates, a financial firm that also advises local governments on bond issues.
Damron wrote the bill that changed how courthouses in Kentucky were funded and approved. Ross Sinclair eventually ended up with 68 percent of the $880 million bonding business for those courthouses, a recent Herald-Leader report found.
Damron said that he sponsored the 2000 bill after talking to then-Chief Justice Joseph Lambert, who said too many courthouses were being built without proper security and that the judiciary needed more oversight over the building program. At the time, Damron agreed with Lambert.
Damron, who works for Ross Sinclair in South Carolina, said he had nothing to do with Ross Sinclair getting the work for the courthouses.
“It doesn’t give preferential treatment to Ross Sinclair,” Damron said of his bill. Moreover, the decision on who gets those contracts is done at the local level, not by the state, Damron said.
But Damron said that after reviewing the nearly $880 million courthouse program, he realized there were some problems. “I think it did get out of hand,” he said of the 10-year courthouse building blitz.
And more from the H-L:
Codell Construction of Winchester has served as the construction manager on 38 of 65 projects — nearly 60 percent of all the jobs — while Ross Sinclaire & Associates has done the bond work on more than 68 percent of the projects in the past decade, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which oversees the program.
-SNIP-
The same is true for Ross Sinclaire, which gets the lion’s share of courthouse bond business. While that company’s political giving is dwarfed by Codell’s, it employs two legislators: state Sen. R.J. Palmer, D-Winchester, a vice president for financial advising and client development; and state Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, who wrote the 2000 legislation that codified the AOC’s building process.
In addition, for a few months this year, it employed the son of former Chief Justice Lambert, who pushed for new justice centers in every county and sees the program as his greatest legacy.
State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary, says the rules might need to be changed.
“I don’t know why these groups are getting most of the business, but it may be something we need to look at,” Yonts said. “Philosophically and ethically, the business ought to be open and ought to be bid in any way possible to get the maximum value.”
Now you remember.
Anyway, Damron does all he can to spin things for RSA but it hasn’t done much good. And now RSA is hosting a private cocktail reception on the evening of UK’s “Senior Night” game in Lexington.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Why would RSA need to be all up on some legislators this late in the session?
Could it be because Kentucky’s Chief Justince John D. Minton has called for an audit of the state’s courthouse construction program?
Just wondering.
22 responses so far ↓
1 Just me // Mar 2, 2009 at 3:21 pm
If I’m not mistaken, RSA also works with school districts and their bond issues.
2 Conservative (formerly "Republican") // Mar 2, 2009 at 4:14 pm
You’re not mistaken. They do. Also with counties on such things as jail construction.
3 jake // Mar 2, 2009 at 4:18 pm
So you’re saying they control EVERYTHING… right?
Even better.
4 James R. // Mar 2, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Just another example that corruption in Frankfort is BI-PARTISAN.
5 LRC Momma // Mar 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Wonder how much money Codell has saved by only bonding 5 per cent of project values, and why Ross ,Sinclaire was OK with that? Maybe Codell should be buying the horsey doers at that game night reception.
6 Dig a little deeper??? // Mar 2, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Let’s not forget that the #2 guy in the Governor’s office is Ross Sinclaire & Associates alum Vince Gabbert. From what I have seen around Frankfort the number of RCA alumni with state jobs has been growing since Gabbert got his post.
7 Just me // Mar 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Hmmm…very interesting re Gabbert & Co.
8 Annex Regent // Mar 2, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Vince Gabbert invites all his Page One friends to stop on by the Senior Night Beanie Weinie Martini Thingy. We’ll bond.
9 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 8:45 am
The Codell bond is like insurance for the completion of the projects and the RSA bond is for the financing. They are different and not connected. Also, from my readings all the projects and financing are already by competitive bid.
If not, why did they only get 68% and who got the 32%?
Perhaps they are having an event to network in order to promote legislation which helps their clients? The UK President hosts a similar event at EVERY game. Hmmmm, no mention of that here…
Good Public/ Private Partnership or Conspiracy/Sensationalism on this thread?
Sounds like to me, someone here is worried the recession might put them out of business and has turned the spin to high gear…
Go find something real to write about.
10 Annex Regent // Mar 3, 2009 at 9:11 am
So, Truth Doctor, Codell doesn’t save money by only bonding 5 per cent instead of what state law requires? There are construction disasters and I seem to recall that the Washington County project was un-bonded until near completion. Is that SOP?
11 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 9:38 am
Annex Regent,
Unless there is insurance with the contractors underneath Codell, then there would appear on the surface to be a problem. Do not know if that is the case as someone would have to look into. My understanding is there are other firms like Codell in the same boat, so it is not isolated to one firm. But no one is talking about them because it does not sell papers/blogs.
“…and why Ross ,Sinclaire was OK with that?” (noted above) is mis-information. They have nothing to do with the construction only financing. Incorrect facts lead to sensationalism.
Check out to see if other contractors have additional insurance underneath and if Codell is the only firm with this issue and post back…
12 jake // Mar 3, 2009 at 9:44 am
Nice damage control…
Truth Doctor (IP: 12.44.***.*** , mail.rsamuni.com)
If you’re going to spread misinformation, try harder. And maybe don’t do it from the RSA computer system.
13 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 9:59 am
No mis-information, just facts above…
Have not read anything other than agreeing more information is a good thing for transparency and said go get it.
You now need to show everyone server addresses… That would be the correct thing to do.
14 jake // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:06 am
Actually, you’re spinning as an employee of RSA. Suggesting that things aren’t so bad for RSA simply because there may be other firms who do business with the state. If you’re not disclosing who you’re with, I consider that spin and majorly shady.
Everyone else are Frankfort Plant Board and Insight users. Folks who aren’t commenting from work or a corporate location, at least.
15 Annex Regent // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:20 am
Truth Doctor, would a construction project not being adequately bonded pose liabliity for a firm such as RSA? No accusation, just asking.
16 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:24 am
So at best your willing to get someone fired from their job for posting on your thread while at work. Nice to let everyone know out there you will sell them out.
Nothing posted says other than challenging to go get more information. Transparency, transparency, transparency…
Makes one wonder if under the Contact Us link if the “All Information is Confidential” statement is actually true…
I am not an employee of RSA. I am a part-time vendor, or at least for the moment, compliments of you.
Your assumption above makes one concerned about credibility…
17 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:31 am
Annex Regent,
My understanding is RSA has nothing to do with the construction side of a project. Their company just assists in financing it and is done with the process.
The $64,000 question is, in aggregate, is there sufficient insurance to cover the project to protect the County.
Do not know the answer to that and is what I suggested to find out…
18 jake // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:37 am
All sources are protected and their information considered confidential. I have two years of history – protecting sources and outing folks in the comments who pretend to be people they’re not, people who comment on stories such as this when they’re working for the company being discussed, etc etc etc.
You’re not a source, but someone calling yourself “Truth Doctor” while writing from an RSA computer. Contradictory/misleading/dishonest/whatever you want to call it, I don’t let that fly.
How many employees are there are RSA? I’m guess there’s more than one individual with a computer.
People, don’t be stupid. Don’t put your job at risk. Use an anonymous service if you’re afraid of being outed. Or, better yet, don’t comment on a story in an attempt to spin the conversation if we’re talking about your employer– unless you disclose your relationship, even if you remain anonymous, as many people do.
19 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 10:48 am
Nice. So do not post unless you can hide yourself or YOU will become judge and jury.
That is really comforting… People can judge for themselves your willingness to compromise anonymity at your discretion.
True colors…
20 jake // Mar 3, 2009 at 11:06 am
Well, it is my website.
Don’t leave a comment that’s borderline deceitful if you’re doing it from your company computer, where I’m likely to see it.
The same crap went down with Cordish Companies when they were caught red-handed.
There’s never been a guarantee of privacy when commenting here. We have an established policy of pointing crap like this out every chance we can. But that’s only if you’re being shady, as you’ve been.
21 Truth Doctor // Mar 3, 2009 at 11:22 am
My final post.
I have read this site before and liked some things and not others. Actually found some things informative. One would have thought it would operate like most, integrity and policies is above all else.
Since it IS your site, you could have simply chosen to delete something versus compromising two years of credibility. However, your comments above are simply scary for your viewers.
Creditability takes years to obtain, but minutes to be destroyed.
With any hope I will still have a job tomorrow. Thanks…
22 jake // Mar 3, 2009 at 12:15 pm
If you could prove to me privately that you’re not a big dog at RSA and that your job is, indeed, at stake… then I’d edit this comment thread to remove personal information and things you’ve said about your employer.
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