Mayor's Business Partner Calls Allegations a Witch Hunt

Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi's business partner says insinuations that Lambi acted unethically while pursuing Ranken Technical College to open a satellite campus in Wentzville is nothing more than a "political witch hunt," according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

Lambi is being accused of influencing Ranken Tech's decision to come to Wentzville.

Those allegations were "referred to appropriate agencies and/or authorities for further investigation," a city release issued Feb. 8 said. 

Ed Watkins, president of Winning Endeavors, told the Post-Dispatch that "rumblings" of alleged wrongdoing began in September as city officials were pursuing an agreement with Ranken Technical College. Lambi learned a rumor was circulating that the college gave him money. Lambi refuted the rumor in a letter, dated Sept. 21, 2011, to the aldermen.

Last month, the board approved the three-year agreement with the college, whicih is in the process of finding a location within city limits.

From the Post-Dispatch:

Shoun said Watkins and Lambi asked Ranken to provide $5,000 to sponsor GAP1 mentor training. Shoun called it "a non-starter" because Ranken already provided the same kind of community outreach and assistance for disadvantaged students. Shoun said he declined the request. Afterward, they discussed bringing the Wentzville aldermen to tour the Ranken campus, Shoun said.

Watkins confirmed that Pleban was examining whether Wentzville should have requested bids before approving its $360,000 agreement with Ranken. Watkins said at least two aldermen and the city's economic development director were aware that another school, Linn State Technical College, expressed interested in opening a satellite campus in Wentzville two months before the Ranken agreement was finalized.

The board's president, Alderman Leon Tow, Ward 1, responded to Watkins' allegations. "I don't believe it should have been put out to bid," Tow said. "I did not know Linn State Technical College was interested. I have an understanding that maybe someone had talked to them, but I did not meet with anyone from Linn Technical."

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