Aug. 2, 2006 — Despite rumors that the firm of Roy D. Jackson, a candidate for lieutenant governor, had been awarded a contract to provide third-party fiduciary services to the local Education Department, the firm of Alvarez and Marsal has instead been chosen.
On Monday, Sen. Lorraine L. Berry, a candidate for lieutenant governor on Judge Edgar Ross' ticket, implied that Jackson's firm had been selected for the project. (Jackson is the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Vargrave Richards.) Berry, who said the name of the winning firm was being "held in a shroud of secrecy" and would not be released until after the September primary, demanded the disclosure of all companies involved in the bidding process (See "Selection of Third-Party Fiduciary Could Become Political Issue").
However, a letter sent March 29 from Property and Procurement Commissioner Marc Biggs clearly states that Alvarez and Marsal had been selected as the third-party fiduciary.
A written statement released Monday by the Committee to Elect Richards and Jackson acknowledged that Jackson's firm, as part of a joint venture, had submitted a bid for the project in December 2005.
"In May 2006, Mr. Jackson entered into serious discussions with Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards to be his running mate. This was almost two months after the joint venture had been notified that another firm was selected. To date, the joint venture has not received any further correspondence … from government representatives regarding this bid. Clearly, there can be no conflict of interest," the release said.
The release also referred to Berry's comments as "disingenuous," and a "malicious attempt to malign" Jackson's character.