Nepotism and Scrutiny

CNN is running an article on the possible ties and influence of the Trump administration to the small Whitefish firm in Montana that was awarded over $300 million in reconstruction contracts for Puerto Rico. The crux of the article is that the FBI is investigating possible linkage between the President’s cabinet and the award. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is an acquaintance of Whitefish’s CEO and is from the same home town. This fury comes shortly after the contract was suspended with all future work being performed under mutual aid agreements.

So why is this news?

First, Whitefish is a small business in Montana that had only two (2) employees the day before the hurricane hit Puerto Rico. Their typical contract is for construction of 4 km of transmission line. Like many small businesses, they capitalize on favorable contracting terms that give preference to smaller companies and subcontract out the actual work to large businesses capable of handling the breadth and scope required. The small business takes a cut of the profit and is responsible to the Government for getting the work done. However, in this case, the award is hundreds of times larger than anything Whitefish has ever completed and was awarded without competition, based on conversations the company was having with the electric provider in the weeks prior to the hurricane strike. Puerto Rico needs reconstruction of 700 km of transmission line.

Second, Ryan Zinke and the Whitefish President and CEO Andrew Techmanski are both from Baldwinsville, Montana. The mainstream media (MSM) has highlighted this connection above all others as the reason for Whitefish receiving the contract. According to the tone of the CNN article, recent accounts of Administration improprieties have led to the scrutiny surrounding this contract action.

However, if you move away from MSM you find the actual reason may have less to do with Zinke than with Techmanski’s own salesmanship and the nature of the deal. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) held a competition in advance of hurricane Irma, but that storm did little damage to the island and was never activated. Following hurricane Maria, Whitefish called PERPA and offered to do the work even though PERPA couldn’t pay the bill. Techmanski hopped a plane and inked the deal the same day by light of a cell phone.

Ok, so the reason this is news is because Zinke and Techmanski are from the same hometown and Techmanski is the Interior Secretary for President Trump. Any other time it’s not news at all. Why do I say that? Because I live in the contracting world and a $300 million award to a small business for reconstruction work is small potatoes compared to other awards I’ve seen – in war zones – where lives are on the line – and no small business anywhere can actually perform the work.

Additionally, nepotism is rampant in the US Government for both Republicans and Democrats alike, so the Zinke/Techmanski link is political fodder without substance. People and companies are given promotions and opportunities simply for who they know all the time. Else, why would the adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” ring so true?

But this blog is about Christian principles in a sinful world. So what does the Whitefish deal and subsequent investigation have to do with Christ and what can we, as Christians, learn from it?

The Whitefish deal is a shining example of why we, as Christians, should treat all persons alike and should act above board at all times. Romans 2:11 says “God does not show favoritism.” (NIV) The Bible calls for us to live above reproach in all things, listing attributes in 1 Timothy 3:1-12 for solid leadership.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’" (Phil 2:15-16, NIV)

So we may never actually know if Techmanski and PERPA and Zinke and the Administration all acted above board, above reproach. Unfortunately in today's news climate, the truth suffers from anemia, so the only clue we may get that the FBI inquiry has cleared all parties is the lack of news. Regardless, it's further call for us to overcome our flaws, rise above the reproachful choices of our past, and live the lives Christ has called us to live.

I’m not blameless nor am I pure, but I’m trying in this "warped and crooked generation."