Shelby County Government Bid Rigging Scandal: Commissioner Thornton Stands Alone as Other Commissioners Turn a Blind Eye to Favoritism, Bid Rigging, and Collusion Allegations
By: Legal Affairs Staff on Oct 29, 2024
MEMPHIS, TN —— At last night’s Shelby County Board of Commissioners meeting, in the wake of serious allegations surrounding bid rigging and collusion regarding the controversial awarding of a Single Source contract to the University of Memphis, Commissioner Brittany Thornton has taken a stand, abstaining from the vote. This move follows mounting complaints from minority voters who criticized the lack of transparency in the contract award process. The nearly $2.25 million contract spans a possible five-year period, yet crucial questions remain unanswered regarding the other vendors that allegedly were illegally eliminated from competing for the contract.
During the meeting, both the Shelby County Government’s Administrator of Purchasing, Mr. James Gloster, and former administrator Glenda Person seemed baffled and unprepared when Commissioner Thornton asked for the identity of the other vendors who offered to compete against the University of Memphis for the contract Single Source. Shockingly, neither Mr Gloster nor Ms. Pearson provided clarity on the identity of these vendors. Despite their failure to address these concerns, eight of Thornton’s fellow commissioners proceeded to vote in favor of the contract. Those voting yes include Commissioners Caswell, Mills, Wright, Bradford, Brooks, Lowery, Avant, and Whaley.
Before the vote, citizen speaker Monique Wade expressed her deep concern: “By approving a Single Source contract without fair competition—particularly to an institution with a documented history of racial inequity—you would effectively be sanctioning systemic discrimination and violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This clause mandates that no government body can deny any person equal protection of the laws. In this case, awarding such a significant contract to an entity with a track record of racial disparity, while excluding minority-led organizations, undermines the principle of equal opportunity. Furthermore, such actions suggest a deliberate attempt to bypass public bidding processes meant to ensure transparency and fairness, raising questions about the integrity of the Shelby County Government’s decision-making process.”
Fellow citizen speaker Senteria Johnson also raised significant concerns, stating, “The assertion that no Black organizations in Memphis or Shelby County are qualified to undertake this critical work raises serious questions about how such an injustice could occur in a majority-Black city. It defies reason and points to potential manipulation of the procurement process, shutting out minority-led organizations that are better positioned to address the very issues of racial disparity this contract claims to target. This suggests a broader, more insidious issue within the procurement system—one that may involve bid rigging, manipulation, or outright discrimination against Black businesses and organizations.”
Unfortunately, it seems that only Commissioner Brittany Thorton was willing to heed the public’s cries for equity.
It is crucial to note that bid rigging is classified as a federal crime under the Sherman Act. Elected officials, companies, and individuals accused of such practices could face serious legal repercussions under various criminal statutes. The responsibility for criminal prosecution of Sherman Act violations lies with the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. As this situation unfolds, the implications of these allegations on the integrity of Shelby County’s procurement processes remain to be seen.
About Post Author
