Governor’s campaign treasurer’s firm gets contract as only bidder
MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker’s administration helped give a contract worth at least $35,000 to a firm affiliated with Walker’s campaign treasurer, state records show.
Walker’s administration in June sought proposals as it looked for a company that could raise $75,000 or more for improvements to the state Capitol and a gala to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
The administration alerted three firms about the opportunity and gave them 12 days to respond, a summary of the state’s procurement process shows. One said it didn’t meet the qualifications. Another said it couldn’t respond that fast.
The third — Solutions KCB — got the work. The company’s registered agent is Kate Lind, the governor’s campaign treasurer. She did not return a call Wednesday.
The firm is seeking $35,000 for the work, plus 30% of any funds raised over $75,000 after costs are covered, according to a summary of its proposal. Solutions KCB is paid from the money it raises.
The money being raised will go toward improvements to the Capitol and a celebration held Wednesday in the Capitol.
“This rigged deal to give a state contract to Governor Walker’s campaign treasurer’s business is as sleazy as it gets,” said a statement from Mike Browne, deputy director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “We’ve seen Walker’s gang ignore the separation between his campaign and outside groups. Now it looks like now there’s no wall between his campaign business and state business.”
Steve Michels, a spokesman for Walker’s Department of Administration, disputed that. He said the administration helped with the procurement process, but the ultimate decisions were made by the Wisconsin Historical Foundation and 100th Anniversary State Capitol Commemorative Commission, which includes Republicans and Democrats.
“(This) was an open and fair process that was reviewed multiple times by the bipartisan 100th anniversary commission,” Michels said by email. “The state assisted in the procurement to ensure proper procedures were followed.”
A simplified and fast-tracked procurement process was used because the contract was worth less than $50,000, he said. The commission agreed to use that system, he said.
The administration spent a month developing its request for proposal. It sent it to three companies on June 8 and gave them 12 days to respond, the administration’s summary of the procurement process shows.
The one response the state got back was reviewed by a panel that consisted of former state Rep. Pat Strachota (RWest Bend); state Capitol superintendent Jason Rittel; and the executive director of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation,
“(This) was an open and fair process that was reviewed multiple times by the bipartisan 100th anniversary commission. The state assisted in the procurement to ensure proper procedures were followed.” Steve Michels Spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker’s Department of Administration
David Wilder.
The panel gave the proposal 65 out of 80 possible points.
The proposal was then presented to the commission, which consists of legislators from both parties, members of Walker’s administration and others. The commission on June 29 unanimously approved entering a contract with Solutions KCB, according to commission minutes.
Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) made the motion for the commission to hire the firm. He said Wednesday he did not know at the time that the firm was linked to Walker’s campaign treasurer and how much time the companies had to bid on the work.
Strachota said she was aware Solutions KCB was affiliated with the governor’s campaign treasurer and that only one bid had been submitted. She said she thoroughly reviewed the proposal and was comfortable with it.
“If I would have felt there was something glaringly wrong, I probably would not have approved it,” she said.
Public relations for Wednesday’s event were conducted by Platform Communications, a new firm in Madison run by Walker campaign adviser Keith Gilkes and others long associated with GOP politics.
Platform Communications is a subcontractor with Solutions KCB, according to Michels and a spokesman for the public relations company.
Walker campaign spokesman Nathan Craft said there was no business connection between the campaign and Solutions KCB.
“The campaign has no business relationship with KCB, and no access to the Capitol 100th Anniversary Gala’s donor information,” Craft said in a statement.