The Chicago Tribune recently reported on an investigation into improper relationships between staffers from the offices of House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and the Illinois Lottery, and lobbyists for Camelot, the lottery’s new British managers. The outside law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson conducted the investigation when it was revealed the staff members failed to reveal the relationships.
The investigation indicated Lottery Chief of Staff Jayme Odom did not disclose contact with well known lobbyist Nancy Kimme, who represents Camelot, while Camelot was being considered to replace Northstar Lottery Group to as the lottery’s new manager. Kimme originally had recommended Odom for the lottery job. Odom also did not disclose her friendship with Eric Elk, who also lobbies for Camelot. Another friend of Elk’s, Michael Mahoney, Durkin’s chief of staff, who also was involved in the lottery manager search, did not reveal their connection. Kimme also had recommended Mahoney for his position with Durkin.
Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub, who is running against Durkin in the 82nd District, said, “Too many things are going on behind the scene you never hear about. I don’t know if you can always question their honesty, but you can definitely question the decision-making of too many of the people who are supposed to be our state leaders. Too many of our leaders think the first thing they should worry about is keeping their jobs when it should be representing and looking out for the people of Illinois.”
According to the Tribune report, Odom and Mahoney told investigators they revealed their relationships with the lobbyists in late 2016 to a committee charged with reviewing moving lottery management from Northstar to Camelot. However, the Tribune reported “investigators questioned the ‘veracity’ of those statements, noting that Mahoney had changed his story and that others present at the committee meeting didn’t back up their claims. One top procurement official who attended the meeting, Jan Morrow, was ‘emphatic’ that no committee member had discussed being friends with a lobbyist, let alone a lobbyist with the firm they were evaluating.”
The Tribune also reported officials in the administration of Governor Bruce Rauner did not publicly acknowledge any concerns regarding the Camelot bid, estimated at up to $2 billion, until they were contacted by the newspaper.
Kimme became a lobbyist in 2015 after 25 years as a government employee. Since then, 29 of her clients received 2,878 state contracts worth nearly $17 billion, according to state budget and lobbyist registration records. Clients include software vendors, construction companies, local governments and social service providers. State Rep. Jeanne Ives, who is challenging Rauner in the Republican primary, commented, “When there is a lucrative contract to be had one finds Nancy Kimme wetting her beak.”
