Politics & Government
Missouri Ethics Commission Issues Decision on Watkins/Ranken Complaint
Ed Watkins, the founder and owner of WE News and GAP-1, lobbied to bring Ranken Tech to Wentzville.
Ed Watkins, the founder and owner of WE News, LLC, and Graduate America Priority 1 (GAP-1) a key player in early negotiations to bring Ranken Tech to Wentzville, has been cited by the Missouri Ethics Commission for failure to register as a lobbyist.
In the decision the commission fined Watkins $1,000, although that fee will be reduced to $100 if paid within 45 days.
The release of this decision leaves unanswered questions about former Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi's involvement and any complaints that may have been filed about his connection to the case.
The ethics commission findings state that Lambi filed a fictitious name registration for Graduate America Priority 1 after Watkins filed papers dissolving the corporation in February of 2012.
The commission also stated that Lambi was paid by WE News and Winning Endeavors.
The decision of the Missouri Ethics Commission, however, is solely about Watkins' role as a lobbyist. The commission states that Watkins approached Ranken Technical College about opening a Wentzville campus, and offered his fundraising services to them. Those services would have also provided Lambi with a $60,000 a year salary.
According to MEC, Watkins also:
- Arranged meetings between Ranken and city officials
- Was also in contact with Linn Tech about relocating to Wentzville
- Recommended firing Wentzville Economic Development Director Larry Tucker when Tucker began negotiations with Ranken after Lambi recused himself from further involvement
Patch contacted Stacey Heislen, Acting Executive Director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, and asked if any complaints were outstanding about Lambi's involvement in the Ranken deal.
Heislen said that state statute requires confidentiality. "I can't confirm or deny that there are any complaints," she said. "It is only the final actions of the MEC that are made public."
The commission is required to complete an investigation within 90 days of a complaint, she said. If the commission determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that violation occurred, the case can be referred to general counsel or to the prosecuting attorney.
If the commission decides there are no reasonable grounds to continue, the case is dismissed.
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