Rumor Mill: Knox Ross running for Senate District 20

The Flora Harvester has learned that Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross will announce his intentions to run for State Senate in District 20. Ross will look to replace Senator Lee Yancey who is running for State Treasurer. Ross formed a committee last year to run for State Auditor in expectation of Auditor Stacey Pickering's run for Lt. Governor, a move that never materialized.

More details on Ross as they become available.

JJ: Pickering Wimps Out

State Auditor Stacey Pickering has released the awaited Audit Report on Madison County. And, as expected, Pickering took the teeth out of the report. Choosing, as noted by Kingfish, to scrub one very damning statement that was in the preliminary report:

"Contracts are geared to protect engineer's interests instead of Madison County taxpayers."

The report goes on to list that the cozy relationship Mr. Warnock has with his enablers on the Madison County Board of Supervisors has, in fact, resulted in his interest coming before taxpayers. But, one has to wonder why the auditor didn't want to come to that conclusion.
View Report: HERE

Related Posts: MCH: State audit probing county contracts
JJ: Stacy Pickering: What the hell?
State Auditor's office sends a response team to Madison County to look at Warnock and Associates Contracts
Warnock tells WLBT he embraces audit, but will there be a full investigation?
Madison County Journal-Report questions engineering fees

MIM: A Republican Challenger To Pickering?

Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler

A couple weeks back state Auditor Stacey Pickering announced he will run for re-election rather than test the waters of a competitive lieutenant governor primary. I don’t think there is much denying that this was a victory for Republicans as Pickering looks likely to win a second term.



State Auditor Stacey Pickering

 However, last weekend Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler admitted that she at least had interest in running for state Auditor. She made that statement on the Red and Blue Review with Jere Nash as she was filing in for Andy Taggart.

To say this would be a shakeup in the race is an understatement. I would venture to say that Hawkins-Butler is probably one of the two or three most well known mayors in the state after the mayor of Jackson. Whether or not that is a positive remains to be seen. But for a Republican to run against a sitting Republican office holder would certainly be a game changer, and give political watchers like myself another highly competitive GOP primary.

MIM

Another Jackson County Embezzlement Charge Investigation By Auditor Pickering Results In An Arrest

State Auditor Stacey Pickering, center, speaks at a press event
Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagola with
Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence, left, and
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd.

Seems like the State Auditor has been busy on the Gulf Coast for the past several months, and the work is now bearing fruit. This is the second announcement of an arrest in as many days.

Former court clerk Diehl surrenders to police
Former Pascagoula court clerk Rhonda Diehl surrendered to authorities after being indicted on three counts of embezzlement, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said this morning.

A city employee for 25 years, Diehl is accused of stealing a total of $17,175 over a three-year period while serving as the city's court clerk. She resigned in January, Pascagoula Police Chief Kenny Johnson said, at the conclusion of their investigation.


The city began an internal investigation after noticing irregularities in the city court funds. They called on Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence and State Auditor Stacey Pickering to assist in the investigation, which ultimately led to authorities identifying Diehl as a suspect.


The city, Johnson said, has since put in place additional precautionary measures to "quickly" detect any type of embezzlement involving city funds.


As for Diehl's arrest, Johnson said, "it's a shame."


SH

A report this morning on yesterday's arrest in the Mississippi Press said:

There are two other pending embezzlement cases in Jackson County.


One involves two suspects and an undisclosed amount of misappropriated money from the Jackson County Fair Commission, which Pickering said he could not comment on because the investigation was ongoing. The missing funds were discovered in August 2009.

Sounds like we can expect at least one more arrest, and another very big feather for the Auditor's cap.

Auditor Pickering issues demand for $1.2 Million against former Jackson County Employee

Former Jackson Co. clerk accused of stealing $890,000

A former Jackson County employee is charged with embezzling $890,000. The indictment against Ginger Lashley, 50, released Tuesday accuses her of using her position as a clerk to steal money from 2001 until November 2009 when she was fired and arrested.

The indictment alleges Lashley diverted county money into a personal savings account at a local bank. That account, entitled "Jackson County Food Drive," received regular deposits of county checks according to court papers.


Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said bank officials became suspicious of the account in 2009 and alerted investigators. Byrd said the frequency and size of the deposits seemed suspect. He added there is no official county account for a "Jackson County Food Drive."


Lashley was first accused last year of stealing $125,000 of county money. However, as investigators dug deeper, the amount of money that disappeared from county coffers grew.


State Auditor Stacy Pickering said his office issued a demand against Lashley for $1,232,579.73, which includes the amount she is accused embezzling along with investigative costs.


"This is one of the largest embezzlement cases we've investigated by the State Auditor's Office and represents a significant loss to taxpayers of Jackson County," Pickering said.


Jackson County Board President Mike Mangum said since the investigation started, the County has implemented safe guards to prevent this type of activity from happening again.


"As public servants, we take this situation very seriously and understand our first responsibility is to be good stewards of the taxpayer's money," Mangum said.


Lashley began working for the county in 1998. Investigators say the embezzlement began in 2001 when Lashley was working in the Accounts Payable office.


WLOX

JJ: Let the hit pieces commence

Jerry Mitchell

Kingfish at Jackson Jambalaya takes the Clarion Ledger and reporter Jerry Mitchell to task for a one-sided story on State Auditor Stacy Pickering.

It didn't take long after Neshoba for the Clarion-Ledger to do a hit job on State Auditor Stacy Pickering.

Hmmm..... I wonder how Mr. Mitchell even found out about Mr. Pickering's use of a state vehicle. It wouldn't be at all surprising if the "tip" came from someone doing some "opposition research". Its pretty obvious to any political observer Mr. Pickering will be a serious candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Family name. Good looks. Base of Laurel and Hattiesburg. Name recognition in the Jackson area due to his current tenure as State Auditor. Then there are the family connections and networks that could help if made available to him. Its no coincidence the Clarion-Ledger wrote a hit piece on an up-and-coming young conservative politician.

Frankly, its hard to see what the fuss is about. Mr. Pickering is to be admired if commuting from Laurel as it shows dedication to his job and his family. Mr. Pickering could have imitated some current state senators: get another home here in Jackson, keep the family stuffed out of sight and mind in another part of the state, and make a mockery of his marriage. Mr. Pickering instead chose to commit himself to the roles of State Auditor, husband, and father. For doing so, he earned sniping from the "state newspaper" and the rest of the Jackson media. The same media that lauds one particular state Senator from another part of the state who is married, keeps a home here in Jackson, stuffs the family out of sight and mind back home, and flaunts his floozies in public for all to see while the media talks about what a great guy he is because he is the media's best friend. He is not the only legislator who does that either. Mr. Pickering returned over three million dollars to the taxpayers of Mississippi, dwarfing the record of is predecessor. For his troubles, Mr. Pickering earns a small salary, which he knew when he ran for office. If Mr. Pickering's use of a state vehicle costs even a few thousand dollars, its a bargain. Forget the fundraising numbers, if Mr. Pickering is receiving this kind of scrutiny from the Clarion-Ledger, somone must be worried.

Read the entire article at Jackson Jambalaya

A Lesson In Deflection

Under pressure from Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and a number of Madison County residents for a too-cozy relationship with County Engineer Rudy Warnock, Board of Supervisor's President Tim Johnson is deflecting accusations by pointing the finger back at the Mayor. Pointing to a legal contract between the City of Madison and developer Richard Skinner and calling it "extortion" doesn't make it so. In fact, Skinner and the Mayor on behalf of the city both voluntarily signed the agreement.

Unless someone comes forth to claim they witnessed the Mayor pointing a gun at Skinner's head and demanding he sign, this is much ado about nothing. In fact, if Madison County, under the leadership of Supervisor Johnson, would uphold their end of the deal on the Reunion Parkway project and complete it by December of 2011, then the money would be returned to Mr. Skinner as the deal clearly states (posted on Jackson Jambalaya). Then again if the State Auditor would subpoena the UNapproved subcontracts for enviromental work that Engineer Warnock ordered and then way overbilled for on the Reunion project and a couple of others, it would go a long way to help return money to the county that could then be used on construction.

It is a typical response from Johnson: create a problem by using your position to provide a loop hole for your friends to gouge the taxpayer, while shifting money from the original project to others which in turn slows the project (further providing your buddy the engineer with a chance to re-engineer the project). And then, when it comes to light what you have done and bites you in the rear end, blame it on the accuser.  Of course the tactic is used often by the other two Supes in the voting block of three, as well, as my friend Kingfish at Jackson Jambalaya reports and is busy uncovering today.

The lack of ethics in DC ain't got nothing on us!



CLASSY!

Related Posts: Madison County Supervisor's lobbying adds to county's woes

JJ: Stacy Pickering: What the hell?

Why exactly would Pickering notify a target of an examination three days before the examination he was coming? Any auditor worth his salt knows such audits are unannounced so the subject can't "prepare" for the audit. If this is standard procedure, then maybe we need a new State Auditor.

Jackson Jambalya

Related Posts: Warnock tells WLBT he embraces audit, but will there be a full investigation?

State Auditor's office sends a response team to Madison County to look at Warnock and Associates Contracts

The Flora Harvester has been informed that State Auditor Stacey Pickering's office has dispatched a team of 6 auditors as part of the offices Audit Response Team to Madison County today. The team is reportedly looking into contracts the county has with Warnock and Associates Engineering.

Warnock has been under fire from elected officials Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and Supervisor D.I. Smith, as well as a chorus of county residents turned activists. All have been calling for an audit from the state to uncover what they believe to be a fiscally irresponsible arrangement between Warnock and three of the five Supervisors. Efforts to release subcontracts Warnock says were approved by the Board of Supervisors have met with stiff resistance from Supervisor's Tim Johnson, Karl Banks and Paul Griffin, while being supported by Supervisor's John Bell Crosby and the aforementioned Smith.

In a point by point rebuttal to Mayor Hawkins-Butler's commissioned review of engineering fees and practice, and published on Jackson Jambalya, Warnock denied any wrongdoing stating, "all subcontracts is furnished to the Madison County Board of Supervisors, which votes on them in open board meetings."

Warnock's attorney Dorsey Carson supplied the rebuttal with 31 pages of other documents to the local blogger, but only once touched on the issue of subcontracts. No subcontracts were actually produced or shared by Warnock.

The Flora Harvester has also received information from an informant close to the engineering firm that Warnock, fresh off a recent trip to the Bahamas, was recently heard discussing a planned trip to Paris at an event to celebrate the opening of Calhoun Station Parkway. Records show that Warnock's firm charged the county $150,000 for environmental engineering fees for Calhoun Station Parkway Phase II and $176,800 for Calhoun Station Parkway Phase III.

Related Posts: Madison County Supervisor Asks For Audit Of Engineering Fees . . . Again.
"To Audit Or Not to Audit?" That is the question
Madison County Journal--Report questions engineering fees.
WLBT Report--Madison Mayor questions county engineering fees

OPEN THREAD SOUND OFF: Did State Auditor address Madison Countians concerns?

State Auditor Stacey Pickering's time on the Gallo Radio Show this morning was all about the ongoing calls for a procedural audit in Madison County. He implied that an investigation has been ongoing for some time. While the discussion went on for the majority of Gallo's City/Metro Hour, Pickering didn't elaborate much more than that, saying to give status updates to the people of Madison County would jeapordize the investigation. He said that concerns brought to light by a recent independant investigation were not a surprise, but added that some of those concerns had now been turned over to the Ethics Committee for further review.

Did you listen to the interview?

Are you satisfied with the response by Pickering?

Was this, in your opinion, too late in coming? Or was it simply a matter of leading a responsibly quiet investigation?

Related Posts: "To Audit Or Not to Audit?" That is the question,  Madison County Supervisor Asks for Audit of Engineer's Contracts . . . Again.

PERRY/The GOPers eye Lt. Gov.

By BRIAN PERRY

Three Republicans appear likely to enter the race for lieutenant governor in 2011. Senator Billy Hewes of Gulfport announced in fall 2009 he would seek the seat. Auditor Stacey Pickering of Laurel says if and when current Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant announces he will not seek reelection, that Pickering would shortly afterward announce his intentions. Treasurer Tate Reeves is widely rumored to have decided on a run for this spot, but has not made any official announcement.

Senate District 49 in Harrison County first elected Hewes in 1991 when he won a three-way Republican Primary without a run-off and went on to beat Democrat Phillip Allen with 75 percent of the vote. In every subsequent primary and general election, Hewes was reelected without opposition (1992, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007) - the only exception being the 1999 primary where Hewes won with 82 percent.

Hewes, an insurance agent and real estate broker, currently serves as President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate, the top leadership position below lieutenant governor. Hewes faces a challenge to increase his name identification statewide, but benefits as the Gulf Coast's "native son" in the race - expecting a sizable share of that region's abundant Republican primary votes. His latest campaign finance report lists more than $670,000 cash-on-hand: well on his way to the war chest necessary for campaign efforts.

Reeves provides one of my favorite examples in breaking the rules of political predictions. I can remember numerous times sitting on Pete Perry's (no relation) Neshoba County Fair cabin porch engaged in the political parlor game of predicting who would be in what office next. Pete always challenged everyone to write their predictions down on a piece of paper and seal them in a box and open them ten years later to see how wrong we all would be. We've never done it - too much like work for Neshoba - but in the years preceding 2003, no one would have written down the name "Tate Reeves."

But in 2003, Reeves came out with a fundraising juggernaut in the three-way Republican Primary for Treasurer. Despite little experience in GOP politics, Reeves led the first primary with 48.6 percent of the vote over a state legislator and a former transportation commissioner and won the run-off with 69 percent of the vote. He went on to win the general election with 51.8 percent over Democrat Gary Anderson and Reform Party candidate Lee Dilworth. Reeves raised more than half-a-million dollars in his first political campaign in a down ticket race. He easily won reelection in 2007 with 60.5 % of the vote facing only perennial candidate Shawn O'Hara. Reeves most recent finance report lists nearly $1.2 million cash-on-hand.

In 2003, Pickering took 52.2 percent of the vote in a three-way Republican Primary in Senate District 42 in Jones County. He defeated Democrat Randy Ellzey in the general election with 58.8 percent of the vote. In 2007, he raised nearly half-a-million dollars to win election as State Auditor facing no primary challenge and defeating Democrat Mike Sumrall in the general election 55 percent to 45 percent. Pickering often serves as a visiting preacher on Sundays.

Read more at the Madison County Journal Online

"To audit or not to audit?" That is the question.

State Auditor Stacey Pickering reportedly will be live on the Paul Gallo Radio Show tomorrow, March 25th at 9:00 am. He is expected to address the ongoing battle in Madison County where residents and at least two of the five Supervisors are requesting a procedural audit of the county's dealings with County Engineer Rudy Warnock.

Some resident activists were on the radio show on March 18. A WAPT report on that same day noted the findings of an independent investigation by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler through Detroit-based PMA Consultants. The investigation found potenital illegalities in subcontracting, an issue that has been discussed for several months according to Hawkins-Butler, and the spending of as much as $2 million without proper oversight from the Board of Supervisors.

Warnock has said he is the victim of politics, and that the investigator, Richard J. McAfee, was nothing more than a "hired gun."

"This bears further investigation," McAfee said in an interview. "Any government in the business of serving the people need to have better checks and balances. There are so many inconsistencies it would make sense to perform a thorough audit."

Pickering's office currently has 160 active cases probing misused funds. The state auditor's duties are to protect the public's trust by independently assessing state and local governmental and other entities to ensure that public funds are properly received, spent and reported.

"We are going to pursue each one of these and do it in a fair and just manner," Pickering said of the pending cases.

Pickering has recovered more than $3.6 million in embezzled, misspent or misappropriated funds since being elected in 2007. He announced today that his office has collected more than $1,038,000.00 in unpaid court assessments since February 22, 2010 from counties and municipalities, and that an estimated $1,061,000.00 was yet to be turned in. So, his effectiveness is not in question. The question is will he finally answer a simple question,

"Will you or won't you add this particular audit in Madison County to that list and help the taxpayers of Madison County potentially recover millions?"

And, if the answer is no, "Why not?"

Related articles: Madison County Supervisor Asks for Audit Of Engineers Contracts . . . Again.