When Corruption Collides

4:29 pm, 5/27/06

When Corruption Collides
In Illinois, when multiple forms of corruption cross paths, the result is not unlike a matter/anti-matter reaction.

Dawn DeFraties, who was personnel director for the [Illinois] Department of Central Management Services, argued in a November 2004 e-mail that a review of her bureau duplicated work that was already under way by another consultant.

"Why do we have to do this again?" DeFraties asked in the e-mail, obtained by The Associated Press.

Her boss, Ed Wynn, responded that the work done by the other contractor -- The Revere Group Ltd. -- wasn't what the department needed. He said he wanted a consultant he knew from a private-sector job to do it correctly.

Wynn, then CMS chief administrative officer and legal counsel, later praised Chicago-based Revere on an advertising circular the company produced.

DeFraties' lawyer says one reason she was fired was her complaints about the multiple contracts. But a CMS spokesman said none of the work was redundant and, instead, DeFraties feared having her work scrutinized.

Aides to Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced May 12 that DeFraties and her one-time deputy, Michael Casey, had been fired for altering job-testing grades to give 28 favored applicants a better chance at state jobs. DeFraties and Casey deny any wrongdoing and have appealed their firings to the Civil Service Commission.

In the fall of 2004, The Revere Group was performing three reviews of operations in the personnel division at Central Management Services. Then Wynn hired Donna Simmons, an Indianapolis-based consultant who had previously worked for Wynn at Ameritech, to do another.

Simmons e-mailed DeFraties on Nov. 23, 2004, asking for information to begin her study.

DeFraties responded to Simmons, with a copy to Wynn, "I don't feel there is a need."

"I have already paid $80,000 to have my processes reviewed FOUR times by an outside consultant," DeFraties wrote, referring to the Revere contracts. "Not to be uncooperative here, but why do we have to do this again?"

Wynn's answer: "What was done before wasn't what we need. I've asked Donna to do this, using the correct methodology and process, as we discussed. So, it will be done."

Despite his criticism, Wynn's name and state title later appeared on a company flyer. "Revere has done a very good job for CMS ... they have been outstanding on these complex, in-depth projects," read Wynn's testimonial.

Wynn, who left CMS in July 2005, declined through a spokesman to comment on his exchange with DeFraties. He said last week Simmons did not benefit from her relationship with him in getting state work.

Of course not, that would be wrong!

Meanwhile, Mesirow Financial, a subsidiary of which was forced out of state work after an embarassing audit revealed they were billing taxpayers for "things like ice tongs, candy, parking at a Chicago Bulls game and a party to celebrate winning the contract"...

"Let this serve as notice to every company that does business with the state of Illinois: If you try to stick the taxpayers with these kinds of expenses, your contract will be terminated," Blagojevich said.

...has a new deal with the tollway department. Mesirow's lobbyist is the cousin of Blago's budget director.