Conflict of interest alleged in upcoming contract vote

Monday, July 23, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS -- The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is slated to vote on a contract today for a company that appears to have contributed to two of the commissioners' campaigns for reelection.

The BOC is scheduled to vote on a contract with Resurgens Risk Management during today's public meeting. The county would hire the consulting firm for $60,000 a year to provide employee insurance and benefits. Previously, Conyers-based NuVision Financial Corporation provided this service for the county.

However, according to information provided to the Citizen by BOC Post 1 Republican candidate Sam Smiley, Resurgens hosted a fundraiser for Post 1 Commissioner Oz Nesbitt in June. Suggested contributions ranged from $300 to $2,500 for the June 7 fundraiser held at the Resurgens offices on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

According to campaign disclosure reports, Resurgens Risk Management also donated $250 on May 31 to Chairman Richard Oden's campaign. On June 4, Oden refunded that donation.

Attempts to reach Nesbitt were unsuccessful by presstime. A call to Resurgens CEO Willie Burks was also not returned by presstime.

Oden said when contacted by the Citizen on Monday that he did not think it was a conflict for him to vote on the contract.

"My campaign handles that kind of thing," he said. "There again, that should not happen any time any company enters into the process with the county. We caught that and sent that back."

When asked if he would accept any future contribution from Resurgens, Oden said, "I don't know. They haven't asked."

Despite the refunded contribution, the commissioners' political opponents say these actions represent a clear ethics violation.

Smiley, who also runs the political watchdog group, BOCWatch.org, said he routinely pulls campaign disclosures for both Oden and Nesbitt and was aware of the $250 contribution by Resurgens to Oden.

"When I saw the item on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, it threw up a flare, so I started doing Internet searches and came across Oz's invitation to the fundraiser," Smiley said Monday.

He said he believes both Oden and Nesbitt should recuse themselves from the vote on the contract because it represents a "very clear conflict" and could be a violation of the state ethics code since Rockdale County does not currently have an ethics ordinance.

"Oden did take a contribution from Resurgens," Smiley said. "Five days later he returned it, but it does not mean they won't contribute to his campaign again."

Tom Harrison, who will be facing Smiley in the July 31 Republican primary race for Post 1 commissioner, agreed that the actions represent a clear violation of ethics.

"The bottom line is it is very inappropriate," he said. "It is inappropriate for anyone who is doing direct business with the county to make donations during campaign season. I don't care how you look at it."

Brian Jenkins, who is challenging Oden in the Democratic primary, is not persuaded by the fact that Oden returned the contribution.

"Just because he returned it does not negate the fact that this expenditure won't be sent back to Richard after this vote," he said. "I would suggest Oz and Richard recuse themselves from this vote. If they do that, the vote would not take place. This is not only unethical, but it also sends the message that vendors can buy off elected officials in Rockdale County."

For Republican Jason Hill, who is also running for BOC chairman, the ethical problem is clear.

Beyond that, however, is the county's preference to do business with a company based outside Rockdale County instead of a local one.

"What disturbs me more is that a company based in Rockdale County that's done a great job for years and it is being replaced," Hill said. "Unless they can come up with a reason why this company has not done a good job, I can't see any reason to change that."

More like this story

Comment during meeting raises Nesbitt's ire ( September 26, 2012 )
Campaign finance complaint filed against Nesbitt ( August 14, 2012 )
Rockdale BOC approves contract despite ethics concerns ( July 24, 2012 )
Nesbitt called on campaign material gaffe ( February 6, 2012 )
Haynes angry over Nesbitt coverage ( May 30, 2009 )

ctownslimm 10 months ago

"When asked if he would accept any future contribution from Resurgens, Oden said, "I don't know. They haven't asked."

Let me interpret that for you. Yes. He would accept money from them in the future.

captainwells 10 months ago

yet again, Richard Oden , Oz Nesbitt and Greg Pridgeon all are guilty of unethical behavior.

This Resurgons Risk Mangement failed to make the required bid deadline and also are listed on the sign in sheet. They are a minority company in Atlanta that do not in fact meet the same standards that the other bidders were required to.

Further Pridgeons son is an employee of this company.

They have changed the county $60,000 dollars where at least one of the LOCAL bidders that employee nearly 200 people in Rockdale county charged NO fee for consulting.

What they refuse to realize there should be no fee at all charged because the carrier providing the benefits actually pay the agency.

Once again the unethical behavior by all three on the BOC cost the tax payers of Rockdale and provide the employees of the county with sub par consultation.

Elmo 10 months ago

Of all the things I've heard about these clowns, these allegations of "crony capitalism" tops the list.

These people were supposedly elected to provide stewardship over our county, but when campaign contributions and someone's son working for a vendor of county services is the sole, deciding factor in dumping a time-proven firm, and then spend $60,000 for one with dubious connections to the commissioners, it's not only "inappropriate", it's downright criminal.

This very thing was the beginning of the end for DeKalb county, and now it's being brought to a county near you.

This very kind of tax and spend cronyism, being modeled in D.C,, is what is bringing America to her knees, and has found its way to the many cities and counties in this country who are currently embroiled in bankruptcy proceedings, or at least, near it.

Is their no oversight governing entity that can nix this "deal" before it takes wing? DeKalb county went from a thriving place to something akin to Detroit in a few short years. Now the same politically correct "corrosion" is rusting it's way to Rockdale.

Tyranny and corruption seems to be prevalent at all levels of government in our country, and it seems as long as we have three judges for "American Idol", no one cares.

This "pollution" will eat away at Rockdale piece by piece until someone has the guts to just say "no".

heresyafacts 10 months ago

"Pridgeons son is an employee of this company" -- I knew there had to be another connection in there somewhere. Thank you for bringing that fact to light.

BOCWatch 10 months ago

As with other information that I uncover you will find the documentation presented to the Citizen at the following link:

http://bocwatch.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=857

ClaytonBigsby 10 months ago

Heck, I saw Chairman Oden near my home placing campaign signs out of his County owned vehicle. Is that an ethics violation? Would sure seem to be!

Innocent_Bystander 10 months ago

Thank you Sam Smiley!!

I'm glad ONE of the candidates for Nesbitt's job is actually keeping tabs on ethics conflicts. If Oden and Nesbitt had not squashed the enacted Ethics Panel 3 1/2 years ago when they took office....perhaps this sort of money under the table wouldn't be taking place.

Some candidates just talk about ethics....one ethical candidate for office is going nose to nose with the electeds to hold them accountable.

Frustrated 10 months ago

When I saw this on the agenda I wondered what the connection would be. I guess Oden and Nesbitt think ethics rules dont apply to them. But then, why should we be surprised at this? Its the same way they have handled the County business ever since they got elected. And people wondered why Oden only wanted the Chief of Staff to report to him.

AWOL 10 months ago

I have always thought that Oden was in this job for himself. Like he thought it was time he used this position strictly for the benefit of himself and his family. I get the notion that he was tired of other people being able to milk the system and it was finally his turn. I think he has witnessed many people getting elected without real qualifications for the job and see them living the good life without any real work and he was jealous of them. I think he saw the predicted record turnout of the last presidential election as his opportunity to ride the "it's finally our turn" voter attitude into office. And he tricked all the good people who didnt do their homework on him.

The question I have for you on this is do you need another reason to go vote today? Share this with everyone in Rockdale County!!

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