Requirement For Minority Contractors Delays MoDot Project

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

A Springfield transportation project has been delayed because local contractors can't find enough minorities to fulfill a federal mandate.

It's a controversial federal requirement that is holding up work on a new regional transportation center and frustrating local contractors.

According to federal law, women or ethnic minority contractors must make up 10 percent of any project that involves federal dollars. The minority businesses are referred to as "Disadvantaged Business Enterprises," or DBE's -- and the provision is creating some problems for a new $2.2 million dollar City of Springfield/Missouri Department of Transportation Management Center slated to be build on West Chestnut Expressway. (Read more about DBE's HERE).

But some contractors view this mandate as an affirmative action program that just isn't practical in Springfield.

Right now, engineers use a cramped space in downtown Springfield to monitor roadways and coordinate signals to keep traffic flowing. Officials want to build a bigger, upgraded facility. But the initial round of bids to perform the work have been rejected.

"Of the ten bidders, none of them were able to meet that goal, so we're going to go out and solicit for another set of bids," said Kirk Juranas, District Engineer for MoDOT.

Wehr Construction won the initial bid that was thrown out. The company declined comment on the matter because it plans to re-bid for the contract and did not want to offend the city or MoDOT.

Dewitt & Associates was one of the low bid contractors for the project, which includes paving, electrical work and supplying materials.

President Emeritus Jerry Hackleman said it's difficult to find minority subcontractors to make up even five percent of the work, let alone ten percent.

"In order to get some of the firms that we would need to meet their 10 percent goal, we're going to have to go to St. Louis and Kansas City, which is taking away work from local contractors," explained Hackleman.

"I think there's minority contractors available within our state and neighboring states that certainly would be happy to bid on this work if pursued," said Juranas.

But most aren't in the surrounding Springfield metro area.

"I can't just focus on Springfield," said Juranas. "I have to focus on a whole contracting community."

In fact, Hackleman said of the list of around 1300 statewide approved minority contractors, just a little more than a dozen are within 100 miles of Springfield.

"There was one minority electrician that placed a bid, but he was about $40,000 higher," said Hackleman, who noted that pursuing minority contractors could push up the overall cost of the project.

He said the provision makes it harder to compete in a hyper-competitive construction market that rewards the lowest bid with the work.

Continue reading this story at KY3.com.

Ballot Bowl '08

Stem cells is a no-go. And so is the much hyped affirmative action initiative.

Yesterday was the deadline to submit signatures for initiatives to be placed on Missouri's 2008 ballot.

A group (lead by California businessman Ward Connerly) seeking to bar many state affirmative action programs missed the deadline. Supporters from four groups angling to get their initiative
petitions on the November ballot did hit the deadline.


A group wanting to restrict the use of eminent domain and another wanting to require the use of more renewable energy came within 15 minutes of each other.

Also, petitions to allow home health care providers to unionize and to repeal the state's cap on gambling losses while barring the construction of new casinos were submitted.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures issued this statement on the anti-embryonic stem cell initiative: "The citizens of Missouri won an important victory Sunday when anti-stem cell activists failed to collect enough signatures to place on the November ballot their dangerous proposal. It would have jeopardized Missourians’ right to access federally approved research, therapies and cures – a constitutional right approved by Missouri voters only 18 months ago. No matter the rationale these opponents of stem cell research publicly parade, the reality is clear: Public support just wasn’t there," said Jim Goodwin in a statement.

Zweifel: Simckes "Still Hasn't Answered The Question"

Rep. Clint Zweifel, a Democratic candidate for Treaurer, still isn't sure whether one of his opponents for the nomination supports the Missouri "Civil Rights Initiative," a Ward Connerly-sponsored ballot initiative.

Andria Smickes recently told the KY3 Political Notebook she is a "supporter of the right to equal opportunity for all Americans."

"She still hasn't answered the question," said Rep. Zweifel in an interview. "It hasn't been answered," he added, but refused to speculate on why.

"She's had two ample opportunities to answer this question, and we haven't seen that yet. I think as candidates, it is important for us to make our policy positions clear. She hasn't done that," Zweifel added.

Another Democratic operative backing Zweifel put it this way: "There's only two reasons. She either doesn't want to admit she was ignorant about the initiative, or she doesn't want to admit she was supporting it," the Democrat said.

On the politics of the Democratic race for Treasurer, Zweifel said he would begin to spend more time in Southwest Missouri, and that while he's strong in the St. Louis region, he would not take the rest of the state for granted.

"There are still a lot of independent voters down there," Zweifel replied, when I asked him if it was worth spending time in the Ozarks for a Democratic primary. "We may not be talking to them as much in the primary, but looking to the general, Greene County is very important. It's growing and we have to make sure we connect with those independent voters," he said.

"The two or three county strategy may produce a victory sometimes, but it's not the best way to govern," Zweifel added.

Zweifel also said he would have "exciting news" to announce at this weekend's Jackson Days in Springfield. He would not elaborate.

Simckes: "I Am A Supporter of Equal Opportunity"

ALSO SAYS MCCASKILL, TEMPORITI CAN'T ENDORSE

In an e-mail to the KY3 Political Notebook Monday, Democratic candidate for Treasurer Andria Simckes said that she is a supporter of "the right to equal opportunity for all."

It's still unclear whether Simckes supports the Civil Rights Initiative, an issue that was thrown into the spotlight by rival Rep. Clint Zweifel earlier Monday.

Because we were unable to connect by phone, I sent Simckes the following two questions:

1) Do you support the Civil Rights Initiative? At the gathering last week, it appeared in answering a question about it, you replied, "I am a supporter." I'd just like to clarify that.

Simckes replied via e-mail: "The correct response is that I am a supporter of the right to equal opportunity for all Americans."

2) Also, on the endorsement comment. Do you still believe that Sen. McCaskill and John Temporiti are privately supporting you? And do you believe you received their endorsement?

Via e-mail, Simckes wrote, "I am in a contested primary. There are four qualified Democrats running for Missouri State Treasurer. Sen. McCaskill and John Temporiti can not endorse any candidate in contested primaries."

So does that solve any of it?

I'll let you be the judge.

Pile-On

POWELL, ZWEIFEL SEIZE ON SIMCKES COMMENTS

Powell Blasts E-mail To Supporters

Zweifel Calls on Simckes to "Recant Support" for Missouri Civil Rights Initiative

SIMCKES RESPONDS

***DEVELOPING . . .

Andria Simckes two main rivals for the Democratic nomination for State Treasurer took aim at comments she made at a Springfield gathering reported by the KY3 Political Notebook last week.

Mark Powell sent an e-mail blast to supporters this weekend which included a link from PudDef.net. The website followed up on our reporting on Simckes' controversial comments claiming quiet endorsements from Sen. Claire McCaskill and party chair John Temporiti.

"This link will take you to an interesting article and blog post concerning one of my opponent's comments...please take a moment to read the article, and pay particular attention to the comment made by 'St. Louis Oracle'," Powell wrote.

Today, Rep. Clint Zweifel, another Democratic candidate for Treasurer, called on Simckes to reconsider her support "for the deceptively named 'Missouri Civil Rights Initiative.'" The Ward Connerly ballot initiative would "effectively prohibit state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, education and contracting."

"This initiative would negatively impact the educational and financial opportunities for women and minorities," said Rep. Zweifel. "I cannot fathom how a Democratic candidate for State Treasurer could support such a regressive measure. This is divisive politics at its worse."

"I hope Andria is just misinformed and will recant her statement immediately," said Rep. Zweifel.

Last Thursday, when Simckes was asked about the Civil Rights Initiative by an attendee, she didn't appear to answer the question directly. She talked about how there had never been a African-American elected to statewide office in Missouri. She then said, "I am a supporter." But then later added, "I do what I can to support diversity." It's unclear if Simckes misspoke in attempting to answer the question or was unclear about the goals of the "Civil Rights Initiative."

Monday afternoon, Simckes sent the KY3 Political Notebook this statement:

"I support the right to equal opportunity for all Americans. I am living proof of that opportunity. My acceptances in the NASA-Lewis MARS Internship Program and Brown University are just two examples of how the right to equal opportunity has benefited me personally. Affirmative Action is one of the most effective tools in beginning to level the playing field for women and minorities. I have always and will continue to support everyone’s right to equal opportunity," Simckes.

A call to Simckes to clarify and elaborate on her position was not immediately returned.

Dem Cliff Notes (Cuz it's Friday)

Democratic releases somehow outnumbered releases from the Governor's office this Friday . . .

Something must be in the water.

• The State Democratic Party announced a milestone to supporters today - contacting its 100,000th voter. "Talking directly with this many voters is nearly unprecedented so early in an election year," said State Field Director JR Starrett.
• The state Dems also came out against a proposed state ballot initiative that would eliminate affirmative action programs for women and minorities. "If the initiative were to pass, the Missouri Democratic Party warns, women business-owners would have fewer opportunities for advancement, and fewer African American students would be able to obtain a college education," reads the release.
• Volunteers for Barack Obama's campaign could be knocking on your door Saturday. Supporters will be canvassing 10 Missouri cities, including Springfield beginning at 10 a.m. If you are interested in participating, you can show up at Dem HQ at 1764 South Fremont Ave at 10 a.m.
• Again, both John Edwards and Hillary Clinton will make visits to Missouri Saturday -- both in the St. Louis area. Edwards has a rally at 9:15 a.m. and Hillary and Bill Clinton hold a town hall meeting in Florissant at 8 p.m.