We know how to get out of this mess. But, how much more damage gets done until then?

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

Even those of us with a little history of being on the wrong side of the political witch hunters in Madison County—one day, I’ll write that story and explain—have to look at the past few months of shenanigans with mouths agape in amazement. There is no definitive starting point, and apparently no ending point, to the political gamesmanship that occurs here in the “Land Between Two Rivers”. It goes back decades. But, if one were to try to define a timeline of events that have us where we are today, the ramp-up to our most recent toxic political climate can be traced back to February 2006 when Board President Tim Johnson and Supervisor’s Karl Banks and Paul Griffin formed a voting bloc and passed a $50 million bond debt program without knowing how the county would pay it back. That lack of budget sense was followed by a vote again in September 2008 to raise taxes to the tune of 3.3 mils to cover the debt that was incurred from it.

Before the 2008 vote, there was an attempt to stifle debate altogether by closing the public hearing, followed by a surprisingly inept attempt to double the increase to 6.33 mils. Due to public outcry and the threat of legal challenges, it was quickly reduced back to the original 3.33 mils. But a new way of doing business had been put into play:

Johnson, who said he worked with an “ad hoc” committee comprised of County Engineer Rudy Warnock and road department officials to develop the plan, said he intentionally did not solicit input from either Jones or Taggart. Johnson, who said he did not need public input to determine the county’s greatest transportation needs, said he did discuss the plan and how best to finance the individual road projects chosen as priorities with District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks and District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin.

“They were a part of it, yes,” Johnson said.

Warnock, who formally drafted the presentation document outlining almost $100 million in road construction and repair projects, was approved as part of the road plan’s 3 to 2 adoption to serve as the lead engineer for the entire road plan project – a responsibility that could potentially earn his engineering firm up to 20 percent of the road projects’ total costs.

“I will be the lead engineer for the road work,” Warnock said.

“It’s what the board decided.”

Plans for the future had been made behind closed doors. It was a sign of things to come.

Wary citizens talk of the lack of open government and restraint in Canton reached the stratosphere by 2009. One road project that had fallen out of favor within the newly developed road plan was holding up development in the City of Madison and Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler began a closer look at the county spending. The result was notice of potential double-dipping by County Engineer Rudy Warnock in his billing practices with subcontractors.

A subsequent report by an independent engineering consultant, Richard McAfee, funded by concerned citizens in the City of Madison found several red flags in Warnock’s cozy relationship with Madison County. The allegations became public in March of 2010, and calls for a visit from State Auditor Stacey Pickering ensued. Board President Johnson and Warnock looked on that as the seminal shot fired. With the help of the voting bloc that now controlled the Board of Supervisors, they began implementing a scorched earth retaliation policy, and a game of “hide-and-go-seek” of the county’s invoice approval process.



It has engulfed the county’s business ever since. Now including Board Attorney Eric Hamer’s billing practices:



The questions of financial irresponsibility also extends to questions over the salary of lobbyist C. Steven Seale, and even if his employment is legal under Mississippi code. Nothing at this point appears to be viewed outside the prism of doubt and mistrust.

I’d be willing to bet that former County Administrator Donnie Caughman and Comptroller Mark Houston are happy as two pigs in slop that they got out when they did.

The latest installment of the timeline has the Board of Supervisor’s trying to lock Supervisor D.I. Smith out of any executive sessions by charging him with leaking sensitive legal information to MDOT regarding one of the privately planned road projects.

The tactic employed by Johnson and company is to deny everything, admit to nothing, and to lay waste to everything through counter charges. There is a void left from the board’s refusal to come clean, and citizens are left guessing at why this is all happening. The vacuum created by a Board of Supervisor's unwilling to explain themselves is filled by any number of rumors.

There is Supervisor Banks land holdings and the question of whether he has personally profited from his votes on the board. There have been concerns of the possible uber-politicization of the upcoming redistricting process to allow the control of the power levers to remain in Johnson’s hands as, are you sitting down . . . County Administrator. That's right folks, rumor is he has his sight set on a job to run the whole county; Boss Hogg in a sequened jumpsuit.

As puzzled citizens scratch their heads, old rumors of the county engineer’s epic shindigs have again been brought to the fore, as well. Warnock’s soiree’s, the rumor goes, supposedly helped him gain enough dirt on public officials that he could get away with the billing deceptions and the closed door road planning meetings. No one would dare cross him lest he go public.

Is this all true? I’m not sure. There is almost always a hint of truth in the most deceptive of lies. That’s what makes them believable. But one thing is for certain; the fact that it is all being talked about as the back story to the ongoing head-butting between factions is not financially or civically healthy for any of us.

This is what we Madison Countians have been reduced to by the mismanagement of a few who want all the power all the time. It didn't just start this year, and it won’t be fixed overnight. Most voters probably now realize it will require some serious purging come Election Day before that fix is possible.

The question becomes, “Can Madison County keep from imploding until then?”

Seale says he'll answer a few questions . . . so let's ask a few.

Seale

Madison County Lobbyist C. Stephen Seale's latest response to our fun little back and forth continues. He says:

"I can't explain each and every action or the propriety of my fees to every taxpayer in Madison County."

And why not? It's really simple, just answer the questions.



Seriously though, I do understand. If he doesn't take direction from anybody but the Board of Supervisors, that's fine. I feel like we're making a little progress here. So, I'll be flexible. 

Seale Says:

"What I will offer to do is to explain the work I do to you and give examples of the work and fees charged by similarly-situated entities for the same kind of work in Washington and Jackson. This is the same thing I've done for the Board since I was hired and have been supported in every instance by a 4-1 vote. It will then be up to you to make your own conclusions if you choose to participate and to report on what we've discussed for your benefit and for the benefit of your readers. Call me if this interests you."

This doesn't exactly sound like a willingness to answer questions, but rather to "explain things" to me. In fact, "examples of the work and fees charged by similarly-situated entities for the same kind of work" sounds eerily like that inner government audit done by the county that tried to explain away Mr. Warnock's engineering fees, doesn't it?

But, when I said I wanted to turn this into "food for thought" I meant it. So, you have my attention, Mr. Seale.

Of course, we'll have to set some ground rules. But, I'm going to move ahead on the assumption that I get to ask a few questions. And, since I had hoped my readers here could ask a few in an open thread, what I'll do instead is offer this up as a thread for readers to send the questions to me. If I can get Mr. Seale to answer them, I'll do my best.

We'll see. Mr. Seale, I'll be in touch.

You ask 'em, I'll ask 'em, readers. So shoot.

Seale says no to column in response to latest post. Offer for open thread Q&A on the table.

In response to the post Madison County Lobbyist won't answer questions until you answer some questions first, and prove your "special" , and in response to my offer of a guest column on this blog, Madison County Lobbyist C. Stephen Seale had this to write:

Mr. Harvester, thanks for the column offer but I'll just offer a few comments in response here. First, it's "you're", not "your special" as referenced in your headline, but you missed the point I was trying to make. I don't know you and don't know you to be a taxpayer. If you are a citizen of Madison County, you are represented by the Board of Supervisors. The Board is my client. I work on behalf of Madison County taxpayers as directed by the Board. I began my state Senate service in 1993 and have worked as a state Senator, Chief Counsel to Sen. Lott and as a lawyer/lobbyist at the federal and state levels since. This amounts to almost 18 years of experience working in and around government. I have worked on policy and funding issues for, among others, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, hospitals, telecommunications companies and other Mississippi-based interests. My clients seeking federal funding and I have a position on earmarks that benefit Mississippi and Madison County and its citizens, and we believe that should be the same position of our elected federal representatives. Finally, as to your position on my "defensiveness", my responses to what you write start with my objection to someone who doesn't know me or know much about my work writing about me and my work without at least trying to talk to me to get my position on the matters you write about. I hope anyone reading what you write and my response will understand that. If that's defensive, so be it.

Thanks for the editorial correction, Mr. Seale. No matter how many times I self-edit, I am bound to miss something. In that spirit, from one editor to another, might I suggest you create a new paragraph on occasion in your written responses. They are somewhat lengthy and would be a much easier read if you did so.

A few observations:

1. You write that you don’t know me to be a taxpayer. I am. As this website indicates, I am in fact a resident of Flora.

2. If you work on “behalf” of the Madison County taxpayers as you write, why would you not answer questions FROM the Madison County taxpayers? You seem quite ready to open up and defend yourself passionately online.  If you don’t wish to write it in the form of a column as I have offered, would you be willing to participate in an open thread Q&A? I’m trying to give you an opportunity here, Mr. Seale. Your friends are as welcome to participate as are those who may have tough questions for you. I’ll monitor the conversation and be sure the posts are only in the form of questions to you, not open ended statements, and no attacks on other commenters. I’ll see to it everything remains civil. Name the time and you’ve got the place.

3. I appreciate your lobbying experience and your time IN government. I made the reference to your time IN government. I made no judgment as to whether the length of that time disqualified you for service in your current capacity. In fact, I’m sure it gave you good insight, and obviously you do have extensive experience as a lobbyist since then. However, I do make a judgment call (as a taxpayer) as to the lack of oversight by which we can measure your success and our investment in your performance, and whether your services are actually needed. Regardless of who directs you and approves the invoices, you should be politically savvy enough to understand who actually pays that $100,000 per year salary.

4. Many of the taxpayers will take exception to you and your “clients seeking federal funding” and the position you hold on earmarks. Is it your contention that you and your “clients” know better than we lowly little taxpayers what is and is not to our “benefit”? I personally agree that it is the constitutional responsibility of Congress to “direct spending.” And I believe those that would end all earmarks are shortsighted, as that responsibility would then fall solely to the Executive Branch. But, I also believe earmark reform is needed to control runaway government spending. And, I also know a lobbyist shouldn’t publicly take a Congressman to task, and then expect him to take you seriously when you show up with hands out.

The problem with the current spending is that the Madison County citizens to whom you refer know mismanagement when they see it. There are serious questions regarding the Madison County Board of Supervisor’s management and lack of oversight. There is an outcry against bloated government, fraud and mismanagement of government spending. The current auditor’s report shows that lack of oversight in Madison County, and we have yet to see the financial report, which could be even more damaging to the board’s credibility. Mr. Johnson and Warnock can use the term “political witch hunt” all they want. The facts show that the questions and the audit were warranted. Your own statements show that you take the seriousness of the report lightly and defend the leadership of the Board of Supervisors despite the facts of the report. That shows a lack of judgment.

5. Finally, with respect to your defensiveness: You discredit yourself with the public when you make comments to the media defending the status quo, and then attack people online for calling such statements into question. What we know about you and your work is what we see, Mr. Seale. And you have made yourself seen and heard. You can’t now run from those comments. As to your “position on matters,” this door remains open to you.

This past week’s exchange between you and I has been referred to by others as a Madison County Food Fight. Why not instead turn it into a civil dinner of “food for thought”? If you choose not to participate in this offer of an open thread Q&A with Harvester readers, so be it. But the floor is still yours should you decide otherwise.

MCJ: Audit shows contracts protect engineer instead of taxpayers

The performance audit recommends in the future that supervisors do more to negotiate the lowest price for the best service.


"OSA recommends that the county should at least consider using the bidding process in the future where competition exists, even for personal service engineering contracts," the report said.

"Even though current law does not require it nothing prevents a board from using bidding for engineering personal services to get the best product for the best price."

Toward the end, the report notes that a financial analysis of their findings has yet to be released and could address other issues not covered.

"The next report will focus primarily on the financial review of payments from the County to Rudy Warnock and from Rudy Warnock to his subcontractors and consultants for selected contracts," it reads.

Warnock's use of subcontracts have at times been the center of the controversy with Hawkins-Butler long calling on him to produce invoices.

"If Mr. Warnock would produce the subcontracted invoices a lot of this could be put to rest," Hawkins-Butler said last year. "It would be so easy and would not cost a dime to produce those contracted invoices."

In question she insists is $326,000 Warnock's firm charged the county in environmental engineering fees for Calhoun Station Parkway before subcontracting the work to another firm.

The terms of those subcontracts are not public record, but critics have insisted that Warnock charged the county for the work then farmed it out at a much lower price and pocketing the difference.

Warnock has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.

Read More at MCJ

Madison County Lobbyist won't answer questions until you answer some questions first, and prove your "special"

Madison County Lobbyist and Wise Carter attorney C. Stephen Seale fancies himself a political player. He must, or he wouldn't have the job of lobbying the federal government on behalf of the county to the tune of $75 grand per year. The voting bloc on the Madison County Board of Supervisors must fancy him a lobbyist as well. They gave him that job. And despite the fact that Seale took a sitting Congressman to task over a pledge to place a moratorium on earmarks (not smart), the board still thinks he will be effective enough a lobbyist to give him an additional $2500 per month to lobby at the state capitol, too.

Seale had a short-lived stint as a state senator alongside BOS Prez Tim Johnson, and an even shorter-lived stint as an adviser to then Senator Trent Lott.

That's it. A total of five years. According to his own bio, that's his experience in both federal and state government. Does that qualify someone to lobby? Maybe. But should Mr. Seale, or any lobbyist, have the autonomy to determine what projects Madison County should lobby for? Is there a list of projects Mr. Seale hopes to get money for? Where is it? Where is the measurement? What metrics do the taxpayers have to measure Mr. Seale's performance?

There aren't any. At least, that is, Mr. Seale won't provide any. Because, according to Mr. Seale anyone asking the question must first prove they have "special expertise" to ask? The fact that you may be a taxpayer, and that he works for the public apparently isn't enough. In a response to THIS POST, Mrs Seale writes the following:

I'm interested to learn what your basis is for your statement that I'm overpaid. Do you judge that based on some return on investment criteria? Do you have some special expertise on the work of lobbyists that allows you to opine as to which are paid too little, just enough or too much? Or are you just like many others who make charges and accusations and offer opinions without any evidence or basis? You answer those questions, Harvester, and I'll be happy to answer yours. Steve Seale

The unmitigated gall of a taxpayer expecting a return on the investment! How dare we!

If that isn't enough of a red flag, Mr. Seale's incessant defensiveness should be. Lobbyist are effective when they work behind the scenes, not when they make themselves the center of attention. Like THIS .

And if Mr. Seale's original tirade against Mr. Dawson wasn't enough, he responded to the MBJ story by going on yet another tirade HERE, complained about not being treated fairly to the North Mississippi Commentator HERE, gets even more defensive over the report that he wrote a letter in support of convicted felon Zach Scruggs HERE, and takes the writer to task over the fact that he commented on Seale's support letter without first asking his permission HERE.

Are you noticing a pattern?

While we're discussing good judgement, or the lack therof, we should also note that Seale apparently thinks that Madison needs only one state senator instead of the four we have. But, maybe that's not so much bad judgement as a good way to maintain a job as a lobbyist. With the lack of representation at the state capitol, Seales job becomes important all of a sudden. Where as now? Well, not so much.

When Mr. Seale "Googles" himself . . . ahem, I'm sorry . . . "Googles" his name, he may see this and respond. So, let me say here to Mr. Seale: I'll give you a guest column spot here on The Flora Harvester site to write about anything you care to write about. Just email it to floraharvester@bellsouth.net .

You can write about the hard lives of lobbyists, the ridiculousness of Congressmen attempting to cut federal spending through earmark reform, or how the recent auditor's report was really not a rebuke of the mismanagement of the Madison County Board of Supervisor's leadership. You can write about how Supervisor's who are paid in excess of $45,000 a year don't make enough for taxpayers to expect them to lobby for county projects themselves, or how you have the "expertise" to do a difficult job while we "po lil unedukatid Madison Countians" should defer to your breadth of knowledge without asking silly questions like, "How much is this costing us?"

Write what you will, sir. The floor is yours!

And why is the overpaid Madison County Lobbyist the one doing the talking?

Seale

In a WLBT report on the recently released Auditors report into Madison County Supervisors lack of oversight in billing practices of Engineer Rudy Warnock, Madison County Lobbyist Steve Seale acts as spokesman for Board of Supervisors President Tim Johnson. Did the additional $2500 a month he was recently given on top of his salary of $75,000 give him the responsibility to lobby the general public and the media, too?

The State Auditor's office released their findings on Madison County road contracts involving county engineer Rudy Warnock. This came after some Madison City and County officials raised concerns about misuse of tax payer money.


At the center of the State Auditor's report was Warnock and his contracts with Madison County since 2004. The State Auditor found the Board of Supervisors has poor oversight and monitoring of contracts allowing for the potential of double payments.

Attorney Steve Seale responded in a press conference, "They found no duplicative payments. They found no misuse of payments. They found no improper payments. They just said the potential existed."

The report demonstrates the contracts had missing information or confusing terms that seemed to protect the engineer and not the Madison County tax payers.

"We're going to look at everyone of those contracts again and make sure they are in the best interest, written in the best interest, of the county," said Seale. "Again, no harm has occurred to Madison County."

And, what exactly does Seale mean by "we"? Isn't that Johnson's other lap dog Eric Hamer's responsibility? Or, does Seale mean him, Johnson, Hamer and Rudy?

What is Madison County trying to buy from Lobbyist Seale?

Madison County Supervisors underhandedness reached another milestone on Monday morning. In a 4-1 vote the Supes decided to give more taxpayer money to lobbyist Steve Seale. Like so many of the county engineering projects approved at the meetings, the issue was not on Monday's board agenda and no details were available on a proposed contract or Seale's performance objectives.

Seale will now receive an additional $2500 per month to lobby at the State level to add to the $75,000 a year he already skims and scams from county taxpayers with Board President Tim Johnson's help. Much like Johnson's engineering buddy Rudy Warnock, Seale doesn't have to provide a plan or proof that what he is doing is getting results for Madison County.

In fact, Seale publicly berated Congressman Gregg Harper's stance on no new earmarks during a Supervisor's meeting just a few months ago. How effective can he be lobbying if he publicly bites that hand? At the least, Seale's public temperament is unprofessional. At the worst, it is costing the Madison County taxpayer; both in the salary he takes home, and in the reputation he gives the county with such ill-advised tirades.

It is important to remember the following words when dealing with federal officials:

"Our Congressional delegation is very sensitive to the level of support (or opposition) offered by public officials and the community."

That is a very good statement. Who made it?

Steve Seale, that's who. In a extremely long comment posted on the Madison County Journal website right after he had another temper tantrum lashing out at Supervisor DI Smith during a board meeting in January:

A lobbyist for the Board of Supervisors publicly berated District 3 Supervisor D.I. Smith on Monday over Madison County's lobbying strategy.

The lobbyist, C. Stevens Seale, had given the Board of Supervisors a year-end update, touting $4.5 million in federal funds earmarked for three Madison County projects, when he began berating Smith as he tried to comment.

Following a nearly 15 minute report, Smith tried to make a comment about Lake Harbour Drive, but was interrupted and harsly scolded by Seale.

"I know exactly what you're trying to do Supervisor Smith," Seale said. "And I'll say publicly I'm offended by the fact you did that."

Seale said he felt Smith was questioning his role in obtaining the funds when other county agencies like the Madison County Foundation and municipalities like the city of Ridgeland had also worked to lobby for the same projects.

You see, Mr. Seale is unstable both in public AND on the internet.

There is also the recent very public argument Seale tried to start with Tom Dawson, co-author of Kings of Tort with blogger Alan Lange, during a Stennis Institute luncheon earlier in the year over whether Dawson was unethically cashing in on the Scruggs case by writing the book. The Stennis Lucheon, for those who are unaware, is a monthly meeting of political figures AND the MEDIA. The fact that Seale would jump so quickly to show how offended he was in front of a statewide media shows a real lack of judgement.

But, so do statements like this:

"I think the Legislature needs to look at Madison County as a whole instead of us being split among four Senate districts," he said. "We're hoping the Legislature can create one Senate district and more House districts so we're not split with 20 percent (of a legislator's district) here and there."

The Legislature will be working on redistricting in 2011. But, why would the county want to pay a lobbyist who supports diluting our voters representation in the State Senate? Could it be added job security for someone? Right now, Madison County residents have four Senators. That's four votes, four advocates. Working to trade that strength into a weakness is either boneheaded, or an attempt at something worse.

You would think that with a salary in excess of $45K, our Supervisors could manage to do the lobbying themselves. When you add in the Madison County Foundation, MCEDA, and the Madison County Business League, why the hell are we paying anybody, especially someone as unstable as Seale, to lobby for Madison County?

Here's a few articles that ran on the move to pay Seale more money:

Madison Co. lobbyist paid $75K annually to lobby Washington


Madison County has expanded the duties of its lobbyist to include presenting local issues to the Mississippi Legislature.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that the board of supervisors voted 4-1 Monday for a six-month contract for Jackson lawyer Steve Seale to push for local issues before state officials. He has been paid $75,000 annually to lobby in Washington, D.C.

Seale, a former member of the state Senate, will get $2,500 a month to lobby the Legislature.

Board President Tim Johnson, also a former state senator, says Seale will be Madison County’s “eyes and ears” at the state Capitol on a variety of county-related issues and also legislative redistricting.

MBJ
 
 

Madison Co. expands lobbyist's job
 
October 19, 2010

Madison County has hired its federal lobbyist to advocate for its interests at the Mississippi Legislature.

The board agreed to a six-month contract for Jackson lawyer Steve Seale to push for local issues before state officials. On a 4-1 vote Monday, the board voted to pay Seale a monthly retaining fee of $2,500 for in-state lobbying efforts. He is paid $75,000 annually to lobby in Washington, D.C.

"I know there will be people asking why spend that money, but we think it's money well spent if it protects Madison County when issues come up at the state Legislature," board President Tim Johnson said.

Seale will operate as Madison County's "eyes and ears" at the state Capitol, Johnson said, on a variety of county-related issues but especially with legislative redistricting.

"I think the Legislature needs to look at Madison County as a whole instead of us being split among four Senate districts," he said. "We're hoping the Legislature can create one Senate district and more House districts so we're not split with 20 percent (of a legislator's district) here and there."

Currently, Madison County is divided among four Senate districts and eight House districts. The Legislature is charged with redistricting legislative boundaries next spring.

Seale told the board he can look out for the county's interests in several areas that will be issues in the Legislature -budget, eminent domain and infrastructure.

Board attorney Eric Hamer said the supervisors needed a new contract with Seale because state lobbying efforts are outside the scope of his yearly, federal lobbying contract. "He has helped us on several state issues that he hasn't been compensated for," Hamer said.

Supervisor D.I. Smith said he voted against the six-month contract for Seale because the issue was not on Monday's board agenda and no details were available on a proposed contract or Seale's performance objectives.

CL

Lobbyists: Who represents whom?


October 21, 2010

The Madison County Board of Supervisors has hired one of its lobbyists - it has two - to expand his duties to advocate the county's interests in the Legislature. The county pays lobbyist Steve Seale $75,000 to handle federal lobbying. He will now be paid a monthly retaining fee of $2,500 for the added state duties.

Seale, an attorney and former state senator, is a good lobbyist. This is not to criticize him. He will represent the county well.

However, elected officials should not have to hire lobbyists to lobby other elected officials. Where are Madison legislators? Why do they need "lobbying?"

Many other counties and cities hire lobbyists. It is all the new craze. But it is a waste of money.

Voters might want to ask Madison supervisors why they can't seem to find the state Capitol. A hint: It's that big domed building in Jackson where all the lobbyists hang out.

CL