Democrat-Gazette examines self-dealing in state government
Eric Besson of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has spread across the pages of the Sunday paper the results of his examination of purchasing by the state Crime Lab.
Bottom line: The agency has spent $150,000 buying toxicology services and equipment from a company co-founded by assistant Crime Lab Director Cindy Moran and run by her husband. The business is expected to grow, the article says.
The article dives deep into the details of the disclosure of the relationship, defense by various officials of the propriety of the relationship and questions about whether bid procedures favored the company.
They had me at the first paragraph: The No. 2 employee of a state agency is an owner of a private company that could someday reap millions in business with her agency. Appearances count.
Read more: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2019/06/02/democrat-gazette-examines-self-dealing-in-state-government
