This of course is under the news radar:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10521059/Pete-Buttigieg-took-250k-donors-awarded-33M-city-contracts-mayor.htmlSecretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s donors were rewarded with over $33 million in city contracts during his eight years as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, according to a Daily Mail report.
There were 23 companies that donated to Buttigieg’s mayoral political action committee who were later awarded millions in city contracts. Between the companies, their executives, and spouses, $253,750 were donated, resulting in at least $33,280,426 worth of contracts between 2011 and 2019.
Along with monetary contributions to his campaign, the companies gifted Buttigieg alcohol, cigars, and golf trips valued at hundreds of dollars.
Two firms, Abonmarche and Donohue & Associates, received hefty city contracts on the same they donated to Buttigieg.
The Mail reported:
Donohue & Associates president Craig Brunner and his wife Sandra gave $1,000 to the campaign on August 8, 2017, the same day Brunner’s company was awarded a $150,000 job by the city.
Two weeks later on August 22 that year, Abonmarche’s board chairman John Linn gave $2,000 to Mayor Pete’s campaign. The same day, the South Bend BPW approved a $75,700 contract for the company.
Abonmarche executives gave a total $12,870 to Buttigieg’s political funds between 2012 and 2018, and the company won $616,790 in city contracts.
Shockingly, Buttigieg appointed Eric Horvath, a former American Structurepoint executive, as director of South Bend’s Department of Public Works, the entity responsible for granting taxpayer money for construction jobs. Horvath’s appointment to the board came after American Structurepoint co-owner Marlin Knowles donated more than $1,000 to Buttigieg’s campaign in 2011.
The following year, American Structurepoint received a contract for the South Bend Smart Streets Project, which reportedly had a $25 million budget.
Taxpayers Protection Alliance president David Williams called for an investigation into Buttigieg’s political donations and every contract awarded by South Bend’s Department of Public Works.