Hodgson Rips Kilmartin Over $45,000 in Office Renovations
Friday, October 17, 2014
Republican candidate for Attorney General Dawson Hodgson has blasted Democratic opponent and current Attorney General Peter Kilmartin for spending over $45,000 in 2011 for renovating the office.
"This expense illustrates Peter's priorities. Instead of taking action on the issues he campaigned on, like fixing the crime lab, he spent his limited resources on office renovations," said Hodgson. "Alongside his patronage hires and excessive PR costs, this is part of a troubling pattern."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHodgson, an attorney who currently serves a State Senator for District 35 representing East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, and Narragansett, was first elected to General Assembly in 2008. Kilmartin was elected as Attorney General in 2010, after serving as a State Representative since 1990.
Costs Outlined, Questioned
In an Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request sent on October 1, Hodgson asked for information on the 'costs and expenses’ for interior renovation [and] construction on the Department of Attorney General building at 150 South Main Street in Providence – 3rd Floor -- during calendar year 2011.”
Hodgson received the response on Thursday.
"Attached please find a spreadsheet responsive to your request for “costs and expenses” relating to interior renovations to the entire third floor at the Department of Attorney General during calendar year 2011. No requested information was exempted or redacted. You should be advised that the attached spreadsheet not only includes “renovation[s],” but also includes the costs of “repairs” and that the description of “renovations” also includes in some cases “repairs” that cannot be segregated from “renovations.”
The line items listed include charges for renovations to conference rooms, bathrooms, carpeting, as well as capital projects.
"Over the past twelve years prior to 2011, there had been leaks into both the Attorney General's office and the conference room. The transition between administrations was the most logical time to address those issues," said Amy Kempe, Public Information Officer in the Attorney General's office. "Among the issues to be repaired were several wall panels that had warped due to wetness. When those were removed, additional damage was discovered."
"It is the Attorney General's responsibility to ensure a safe and professional work environment for all of the dedicated and hard working employees of the Office. Further, The Attorney General has an obligation to the State and bond holders to maintain the building," said Kempe. "The Attorney General has come in under budget each year of his term."
"With totals just over $45,000, there's no way for me to delineate necessary maintenance and repair," said Hodgson. "As you know, we've spent some time this week examining Peter's misplaced focus on perks, patronage, and public relations."
While none of the vendors appeared to have made political donations directly to Kilmartin, records show that Lynn Kent with Robert Audet Inc, who did electrical and lighting work, has given over $4,700 in contributions to candidates and officials since 2006, including over $2,000 to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Rhode Island; Alfred Kelley with Kelly Floor Covering has donated over $1,700 to candidates since 2002, and Mario Lagoa with Legacy General Contracting made just one contribution -- $400 to Jorge Elorza's campaign.
In particular, Hodgson pointed out PR expenses in Kilmartin's office. "[Kilmartin's] Public Information Officer is paid $128-thousand per year. The fifth highest paid employee of the Office of Attorney General, the PIO earns more than 66 of the 68 attorneys in the office’s Criminal Division."
Related Slideshow: Rhode Island Biggest Political Scandals
Related Articles
- NEW: Hodgson Calls for Action from AG on Overdose Epidemic
- NEW: AG Candidate Hodgson Calls for Kilmartin, Kempe to Step Aside
- NEW: Candidate for AG Hodgson Proposes Action Plan for Google Fund
- Kilmartin Could Be Vulnerable to Hodgson in RI AG’s Race
- NEW: Hodgson Wants To Slow Down Transition to State Board of Education
- NEW: Hodgson Announces Candidacy for Attorney General
- Hodgson Stands with NAACP on Reducing Violence
- NEW: Hodgson Calls for RI to Use RICO Law to Combat Gang Violence
- NEW: Hodgson Blasts Kilmartin For No Bid Legal Contracts to State Legislator
- The Scoop: Kilmartin Hits Back at Hodgson, Harrop Urges Right-To-Work Municipal Ordinance, and More
- Richard August: Kilmartin Speaks On Guns
- NEW: AG Kilmartin—Mortgage Settlement Checks Mailing This Month
- NEW: Kilmartin to Represent National AG Association in Moscow
- NEW: AG Kilmartin Warns of Jury Duty and Arrest Warrant Scam in RI
- AG Kilmartin Warns Consumers to Read Fine Print on Gym Memberships
- NEW: Kilmartin Joins $7 Million Settlement Over Google Street View
- Palumbo, Kilmartin Renew Call for Better Tracking of Sex Offenders
- NEW: Kilmartin Applauds Congress for Extending Mortgage Debt Relief
- NEW: Kilmartin and Verizon Wireless Team-up to Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence
- NEW: AG Kilmartin Warns RI Football Fans of Possible Ticket Scams
- AG Kilmartin Announces a $40.1 Million Settlement with CareFusion
- CONSUMER ALERT: Yahoo Notifies AG Kilmartin of Security Breach
- Kilmartin, Providence Community Groups Spar Over Google Money
- RI AG Kilmartin Spent, Fundraised Thousands in Florida
- Kilmartin to Host Shred-a-Thons For Nat. Consumer Protection Week
- NEW: Kilmartin Urges More Pharmacies to Stop Selling Tobacco in RI
- NEW: Kilmartin slams ACLU for “one-sided” view of APRA enforcement
- Kilmartin Blasts Corrections Officers’ Hodgson Endorsement
- Hodgson Names Gobeil as Campaign Manager
- Kilmartin Responds to Hodgson on RICO Gang Initiative
- Hodgson Refuses to Call Out Kilmartin on RI Beach Contract Controversy
- Hodgson Rips Kilmartin Over $45,000 in Office Renovations