Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > April > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTies to an indicted company make local politicians uncomfortable
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Suddenly, the biggest worry in local politics has become fallout from the federal indictment of the Facility Group, a Smyrna architectural and engineering firm that’s ram-rodding some of the biggest building projects undertaken by local governments in Atlanta.
The company’s three top executives, as well as the firm itself, have been accused of funneling excessive campaign contributions to a public official in Mississippi to win a contract to manage the completion of a beef processing plant, which ultimately failed.
Last week, the Cobb County Board of Education approved an audit of its relationship with the Facility Group.
The firm has managed the district’s publicly tax-funded $1.16 billion school building program for the past 10 years. A vote to renew the penny sales tax that funds the construction comes up in September — and Cobb has a fickle history when it comes to approval of sales taxes.
This morning, the Marietta Daily Journal reports that the Facility Group “has been performing free work on the school system’s proposed SPLOST III since last summer.”
“Do I receive help from people who want to help me? Sure,” said John Crooks, vice-chairman of the school board.
In Cherokee County, the Ledger-News reports that Sheriff Roger Garrison has returned $3,000 in campaign contributions he received last summer from executives of The Facility Group, which expanded the county jail.
Says the Cherokee newspaper:
Garrison also recently listed in a campaign finance disclosure document a $1,000 contribution returned to Neighbors of Earl Ehrhart, the campaign of state Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), who is a Facility Group executive, and a returned $1,000 contribution from company executive Robert “Bob” Moultrie Jr. and his wife Kelley Moultrie. Garrison received the contributions last July at a golf tournament in the gated Hawks Ridge community.
Ehrhart, a vice president for the Facility Group, is also chairman of the House Rules Committee.
And in Paulding County, where the Facility Group oversees the construction of a $65 million county administrative complex, the company’s influence has become one of the more popular topics on Paulding.com, a community news web site.
According to the State Ethics Commission, the Facility Group political action committee alone has given $21,700 to political candidates in the last 15 months.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has received the largest portion — $10,700. Other contributions include: $2,000 to Jerry Shearin, chairman of the Paulding County Commission; $1,000 to Secretary of State Karen Handel; $500 to Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren; $1,500 to the Georgia Federation of Republican Women; $500 to Cobb County Chairman Sam Olens; and $500 to Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon.
Comments
By coastalviewpoint.com
April 16, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
You should read our latest www.coastalviewpoint.com and page two www.coastalviewpoint.com/pageA2.html
More coming soon. We have documents from open records that include emails showing improper actions by The Facility Group post RFP issuance on the Detention Center Expansion Brunswick. That is another TFG mess.
I said in the very beginning that this story had legs and it continues to build. It won’t be over for a long and very messy time. But that means lots of “indicting” news.
By southgeorgia architect
April 16, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Coastal View Point, thank you for the information. There are a lot of good architectural firms that play honestly and deserve a shot at some of the state’s work.
that do not have a paid Legislature as a sales rep
By southgeorgia architect
April 16, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Coastal View Point, thank you for the information. There are a lot of good architectural firms that play honestly and deserve a shot at some of the state’s work.
that do not have a paid Legislature as a sales rep
By George Clements
April 16, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
Welcome back, Jim.
By southgeorgia architect
April 16, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
they do have a paid Legislature on their payroll
By R
April 16, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Well Well, nice to see this happen to a Sheriff but the real story that hasn’t comeout is the other moneys paid to foundations and charities for sheriff’s. Just wait til some reporter who isn’t so lazy starts to look at those things. Oh and the other thing missed so far is that Bill Hutson, the former sheriff of Cobb is now a “consultant” for the facility group going around helping other sheriff’s decide if they need a new jail. And his money hasn’t been returned yet.
By atlanta architect
April 16, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
anybody checked how much $ has been given to Earl Erhart and our great Speaker of the House, Richardson?
By Galoco_lee
April 16, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Now we know why the City Administration of Smyrna is pro-illegal alien !!!
By GodHatesTrash
April 17, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
Dog bites man. Redneck criminality runs rampant in Georgia.
Nothing new or newsy here. This trash will skate.
By honest architect
April 17, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
to God Hates Trash,
do you really think all of this is going to skate by and no one will be reprimaneded?
hope not
By honest architect
April 17, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
to God Hates Trash,
do you really think all of this is going to skate by and no one will be reprimaneded?
hope not
By trustworty architect
April 17, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
come on people, lets keep these guys on the hot seat!
By trustworty architect
April 17, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
come on people, lets keep these guys on the hot seat!
By rat_smeller
April 18, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
So it would seem that the plot, like Glenn Richardson’s midsection, continues to thicken. I bet that a lot of the fat cats running around Smyrna are gonna get a little “thin in the skin” as the worries about who is saying what to which investigators and which reporters begins to cause stomach pains unrelated to hunger. But don’t worry Earl, it’s better than the South Beach Diet.
By trustworthy architect
April 18, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Rat, I agree Has this info gone to the Attorney’s General office, I dont see it on the front page of the AJC
By atlanta architect
April 19, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
Rat, where are you?
Lets keep this blog going
By rat_smeller
April 22, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Sorry guys, I just got back from a little R&R in the Caribbean. Atlantis rocks, btw. It does look, though, like I’d have had more fun and probably more success with the ladies had I gotten on board and convinced TFG to start doing DOT contracting. Imagine that…dirty money and office liaisons! Wait, if that’s my goal, I should just join the House Republicans.
By atlanta architect
April 22, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Rat, you are too cute
have you checked out www.coastalviewpoint.com lately? has an email from Bud Mattingly to the Glynn County Chairman and County Manager. Interesting
By rat_smeller
April 23, 2008 7:18 AM | Link to this
Saw that CV, very interesting email exchanges. But pedestrian in the sense of it was just another day at the office for TFG execs. Poor old Bud, getting caught up like this. I hear, though, that he isn’t really responsible for “handling” the “politics” for TFG and he can get out from under all scrutiny by talking about the way “politics” were handled by TFG personnel. I wonder who handled that domain for TFG? Any ideas?
By concerned architect
April 23, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
I would surmize either Ennis or Moultrie. I agree, dont think Bud is that “political”
By rat_smeller
April 23, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
I’d figure that the most politically adept person at TFG and therefore the person who “handles” the “politics” would be the one actual pet politician they keep on payroll.
By concerned architect
April 23, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
oh ye, our great Ways and Means State Rep Earl Erhart
Why does the AJC or Marieta Daily Journal have Moultrie, Cawood and Erhart’s pictures on the front page, and not hid in the Metro Section.
You see Dr. Abraham and Mr. Evans on the front page, why not Perdues buddies