DuPage Election Commission Questions Need for PR Firm
The commission's director will provide a memo regarding the commission's need to employ a public relations firm Aug. 2.
Photos
New members of the DuPage Board of Election Commissioners last week questioned the need to employ Reverse Spin, a public relations firm their predecessors hired, the Daily Herald reported Sunday.
Reverse Spin Principal Dan Curry said the firm is working on a "month-to-month" basis under the terms of its former contract. The company receives $3,000 a month from the commission, according to the Herald.
"The commission let a lot of contracts expire because they knew certain board members were going to be replaced," Curry said.
Commission staff is now proposing a $36,000 professional services contract for Reverse Spin.
Following reports earlier this year of poor ethics and procurement practices at the agency, Cronin appointed Cathy Ficker Terrill of Elmhurst and Art Ludwig of West Chicago to the Election Commission in April. Over the last several weeks, the commission has instituted new ethics, personnel and procurement policies as well as eliminated the use of credit cards and cell phone use by commission staff.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin selected Christopher Hage on July 10 to complete the remaining term of former Chairman Rick Carney, who stepped down in May.
The Election Commission review raised questions about how the commission awards contracts, administers ethics policies and uses taxpayer-funded credit cards, according to a statement released by DuPage County in April.
Cronin ordered the "stress tests" last year following the financial crises at the Water Commission and the DuPage Housing Authority. The County Board hired Crowe Horwath to review the financial and operational structure of 24 DuPage agencies, which account for nearly $300 million in public funds.
“The report shows that the Election Commission is another prime example of why we initiated these ‘stress tests’ in an effort to identify problems that need to be resolved,” Cronin said in a statement. The results of the Election Commission stress test show it “needs to make significant improvements to its internal control procedures and practices” regarding credit cards, ethics and procurement.
The commission also “failed to follow its own procurement policy in 12 of 13 contracts” reviewed by Crowe Horwath. The 12 contracts lacked competitive bidding, failed to disclose subcontractors and did not include information about the nature of the goods and services provided.
Terrill asked Bob Saar, executive director of the commission, to provide a memo at the Aug. 2 meeting explaining why Reverse Spin should have a contract, and why other firms shouldn't be allowed to bid on the work, according to the Herald. The full story, "DuPage election panel scrutinizes PR firm contract" is available on the Daily Herald website.
CountyLeaks
8:25 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Is this bi-partisanship?
http://www.obamaandblago.com/about/
CountyLeaks
5:47 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
This PR firm refers to themselves as "game changers" on their website's home page. Why do government entities need game changers? To smear citizens who dare to criticize the wrongdoings of officials?
http://countyleaks.blogspot.com/2011/09/targeting-david-protess-six-years-ardc.html
Marcus
6:05 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
What the...?
http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-5214-public-relations-gone-awry.html
Ken LaTroy
8:18 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
It's a free country.Reverse Spin can consult the DuPage's Electoral Board and work on Republican campaigns.Anyone who has a problem with it must be one of those community organizer types who belong in Cook County instead of here.
J
10:14 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Ken, what a breath of fresh air. Hang on while I get a can of industrial strenght Glade.
Ever hear of the concept of public fiscal responsibility? You know, don't waste the taxpayers money on politically connected(Reverse Spin) public relations(spin) firms.
Why the hell does the election commission need a public relations firm anyways?
The correct answer is that they DON'T. Neither does the Dupage Forest Preserves.
As far as Cook County goes, sounds like your mindset is perfect for living there.
CountyLeaks
1:56 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Daily Herald should have a few questions for Reverse Spin after reading this:
http://countyleaks.blogspot.com/2011/06/bianchi-in-daily-herald-campaign-forum.html
Muriel
2:43 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
What?!? Let me get this straight. This government agency pays a radical rightwing political operative our tax money to be its spokesperson?
Political operatives may be of some use on the planet (although nothing comes to mind at the moment)...but an election agency? Pleeeeeease...
What exactly is going on at this place? What needs spinning...to the right?
Marcus
7:40 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The theme song of political operatives tiptoeing in the shadows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM&feature=related
Kevin Fitzpatrick
4:16 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Leaving the political operative part of the discussion out of this debate, I would suggest that having a professional agency or person charged with offering clear and concise messaging is a good business practice. People who are charged with overseeing and operating agencies or businesses rarely have time (or often the skills) to prepare press releases or answer a question on the spur of the moment from a reporter on a deadline with limited opportunity to double or triple check the facts. It has less to do with spin and more to do with making sure people get the most accurate information possible. This agency and many others are responsible for getting clear and concise communication out to a large public body about important matters. Having a professional in place to do so is not a waste or a bad policy. Lots of people want to "shoot the messenger". You can't do that if there isn't one and I can assure you that the first time an elected or appointed person gets misquoted or phrases something in an unfortunate way, you'll cease to get information at all. A good professional public relations person is a benefit to all sides.
Marcus
5:12 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Most certainly, Kevin. Bottom-feeding political operatives who receive easy, steady government business from cronies make the work of real, professional PR firms look bad. If the agency believes they need a PR firm, they should send out RFBs and require strict guidelines and ethics.
bill trudeau
7:20 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
If accurate information is the objective, why the name "Reverse Spin"?
Marcus
8:20 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
While under contract with the DuPage's Election Board, Reverse Spin was working with Rick Reed -- the guy who boasts of being behind the swift boat attacks against John Kerry. Go to Rick Reed Media's website and watch the video which pops up. There's an endorsement from Reverse Spin. Our tax dollars were paying Reverse Spin to represent all DuPage Citizens while the firm was being paid by Reed's Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America.
How crazy is that? Only in DuPage County, folks.
Make a choice. Be a spokesman for the county's non-partisan election board OR be a Republican political operative. Sorry, can't do both.
Ken LaTroy
6:14 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
The Republicans hold the power in DuPage County. If we want to pay Republican strategists and vendors, FINE. Comes with the territory. The left-wing community organizers in Chicago and Cook County hire only DemocRATS for government work. The DemocRATS here aren't in control and all they do is whine. High time they all moved back east where they belong.
Marcus
7:08 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
Wow.