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$102K typist was Republican candidate in '02

Democrats file FOIA request seeking details on state staffing contracts

Chairman Lynch asks: 'How many other GOP candidates were rewarded with plum contract jobs?'

PAWTUCKET- Rhode Island Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Rhode Island Department of Administration seeking details surrounding any and all contracts the state has entered into with private staffing companies.

Specifically, Lynch is requesting the names, positions, salaries and overhead mark-ups covered in such contracts dating back to 2003. "It's time for the governor and his staff to come clean. Everyday the administration's story seems to change a little more, and I think it's about time the people of Rhode Island learned how the governor has been spending their money," said Lynch.

Lynch also noted that Karenlee Bernardo, the Department of Transportation typist whose job costs the state more than $102 thousand annually, was a Ward Three Republican candidate for the Warwick City Council in 2002. "It begs the question: How many other GOP candidates were rewarded with state contract jobs for agreeing to run on the Republican ticket?" Lynch asked.

"These are public jobs, paid with taxpayer money. Rhode Islanders deserve to know whether these positions were appropriately posted and advertised, or if the Carcieri administration contracted with private staffing agencies as a means of side-stepping public hiring practices," said Lynch.

"I also find it ironic that Governor Carcieri now favors an investigation of the staffing contracts - something I've been demanding for more than a month. His administration's shock and awe over the outrageous mark-ups associated with these contracts look more like a jailhouse confession than a sincere act of contrition. It's a good thing the media was paying attention to this issue, because clearly the governor and his staff were not," Lynch said.

"Maybe we need a REALLY BIG audit?" he asked.

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