Felix bill bans contracts to political donors

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

The city would be banned from giving non-bid contracts to businesses or people who had contributed to the mayor's campaign in the previous two years under a bill proposed yesterday by city Councilman John Henry Felix.

Felix said he hopes the bill will break any link between campaign contributions and non-bid contracts, awarded at the discretion of the city administration.

He said this proposal can succeed where others have failed because it "avoids the constitutional question of prohibiting individuals or corporations from giving money to mayoral candidates or incumbent mayors by putting the onus on the city to eliminate any real, perceived, or potential favoritism which may result from campaign contributions."

Felix said the public often views the awarding of lucrative non-bid contracts as payback for campaign contributions.

The bill would not apply to contracts awarded through competitive bidding.

State Campaign Spending Commission executive director Robert Watada said the bill would accomplish some of the reforms he's been pressing for, but he would prefer the broader state Senate bill which was poised for final approval yesterday.

Watada said the bills send a message to state and county elected officials that they should not award contracts to people who have been giving them political contributions.

The Harris administration did not respond to a request for comment on the Felix bill.

Felix said he's optimistic his bill will win approval. In the wake of one council member going to federal prison and another pleading guilty to felony theft, the council is sensitive to public concerns. Felix said members want to do "some very positive things to restore public confidence to the face of municipal government."