“Questions Surround” No-Bid Contract Connected To Dem Gov Gina Raimondo

Failed Democrat Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is taking heat for her ties to a firm that was awarded a lucrative no-bid contract by the Rhode Island State Police. Raimondo’s relationship to the group, owned by former Senate sergeant-at-arms Terrance Gainer, is the subject of a new editorial by the Providence Journal:

“… it is deeply troubling that the State Police, under its new colonel, Ann Assumpico, awarded a no-bid contract worth $225,000 to a politically connected firm that Gov. Gina Raimondo had repeatedly urged the agency to hire…

The governor’s interest in having the State Police hire Mr. Gainer is hard to figure. According to her press aides, she knew nothing about the firm, which came recommended by the governor’s counsel.

But there are political fingerprints surrounding the firm. Ms. Raimondo received a $1,000 contribution from Mr. Gainer’s niece, Bridget, with whom the governor appeared on a Chicago television show to discuss pension reform. Before embarking on his consulting work, Mr. Gainer was hired by former Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid to be sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate. Earlier, Mr. Gainer had resigned as Capitol Police chief when a nepotism controversy arose over his hiring his son-in-law.”

Raimondo’s appearance on Chicago television with Bridget Gainer occurred in 2012 when Raimondo was in office as Rhode Island’s treasurer:

Gina Raimondo may talk a big game about promoting “good government,” but sadly her actions do not match her words. Rhode Islanders deserve a Governor who will work tirelessly to promote transparency at all levels of government but clearly Gina Raimondo cannot be upfront about her own shady actions.