Heery has record of contributions to politicians | The Augusta Chronicle

Augusta commissioners, poised to vote Tuesday on extending Heery International’s contract, deny the company’s campaign contributions and gifts are “pay to play” handouts, but Heery’s conduct in other cities and states suggests otherwise.

Augusta has paid Heery and two subconsultants $9.5 million in fees since late 2003 to manage the city’s construction projects funded by sales taxes, such as the $62 million Augusta Judicial Center or $38 million Augusta Convention Center.

Over the years, Heery has made cash contributions to political campaign and community projects supported by city politicians, such as $1,500 sponsorship of the CSRA Classic in 2008. According to Heery internal documents obtained by The Augusta Chronicle, the sponsorship was tied to the firm’s desire to continue its work on sales tax projects:

“We are currently working on the A-R County SPLOST program. They are in the process of developing a project list for the 2009 SPLOST that exceeds $160M,” the memo said.

In 2009, Heery made $1,500 contributions to Augusta Commissioners Corey Johnson and Alvin Mason, who were not up for re-election that year. In 2010, Heery gave $900 to Johnson and Mason again, and $1,000 to unopposed Commissioner Joe Jackson. Heery’s subconsultant Dukes, Edwards and Dukes gave Mason a $500 donation. None of the three candidates reported raising more than $20,000.

Commissioner Bill Lockett, who recently claimed that a lone $1,000 donation from Heery in 2012 helped him retire campaign debt from 2009, reported a $1,000 contribution from “Meery” in April 2010 at Heery’s same 999 Peachtree St. NE address in Atlanta.

Heery has never reported anything to city or state officials about its donations, despite a local requirement that vendors report lobbying and state laws that require reporting of such gifts and donations as lobbying expenses.

via Heery has record of contributions to politicians | The Augusta Chronicle.