When Dan Eckstrom is asked about possible conflicts of interest involving a contract he has with Pima Community College, the former Pima County supervisor jokes that perhaps he should be happy that people are thinking of him, since he’s been out of politics for nine years.
Eckstrom—no stranger to controversy after spending 32 years in politics—said he does not know how his consultant contract with PCC has been approved, but he never thought the process broke any laws, nor did he think there were any potential conflicts of interest.
“I don’t know who makes this stuff up, but you know what? At this point in time, maybe they think I’m an easy target,” Eckstrom said. “I’m sure that these people will try to go to any means to connect things.”
The Tucson Weekly was provided with a report last week that was included in a March 9 request to the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate allegations that the college broke state laws and its own policies regarding payments to consultants John Crnokrak and Dan Eckstrom, as well as possible conflicts of interest.
The source who gave the report to the Weekly asked to remain unidentified. A call to the AG’s office to ask whether the report has sparked an investigation was not returned as of press time.
The report details various PCC controversies that have already surfaced—namely, the hiring of Crnokrak, reportedly a friend of former Pima Chancellor Roy Flores. Crnokrak reportedly made $300,000 through an employee-coaching contract approved by Flores—a contract never put up for bid, and never approved by the governing board, as required by state law and the college’s own policies.
According to the college’s purchasing procedures, if work is valued at more than $15,000, a formal bidding process is required. There was also the issue of conflicts of interest, since Flores and Crnokrak were identified as friends. According to the college’s conflict-of-interest policy, “Any employee of the college, or relative of an employee, who has a substantial interest in any contract, sale, purchase or service to the college shall make known that interest to the college … and shall refrain from participating in any manner as an officer or employee in such contract, sale or purchase.”
Eckstrom said he was first hired by the college in 2007 and continues to work for Pima as part of a contract “renewed every year,” but billed and paid monthly. According to a vendor history included in the AG investigation request, Eckstrom has made $188,222.50 from Pima from 2007 to 2011. Eckstrom continues to work for the college, but vendor reports for 2012 were not made available in the investigation report.
Most of Eckstrom’s monthly billing statements ranged from $3,000 to about $5,000. In 2007, Eckstrom was paid $23,222.50; in 2008, $45,500; in 2009, $49,625; in 2010, $45,750; and in 2011, $24,125. The investigation request points out that although the yearly totals are much higher than $15,000, Eckstrom was allowed to bill monthly, meaning each invoice was less than $15,000.
The request for an investigation into the college questioned certain relationships Eckstrom has with college governing-board members, claiming he could be in violation of college policy and state law.
One potential conflict brought up in the report is that board member David Longoria is in a relationship with Eckstrom’s daughter, Jennifer Eckstrom, the mayor of South Tucson and an assistant to Pima County Supervisor Ramón Valadez. Longoria is also employed by Pima County as an executive assistant to Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.
Another is that governing board member Vikki Marshall works for Pima County under Eckstrom’s brother, Art Eckstrom.
Longoria told the Weekly that he and Jennifer Eckstrom are good friends, but the relationship is strictly platonic.
Regarding Dan Eckstrom’s contract, Longoria said his opinion is that nobody else is capable of doing the work that Eckstrom does. “He’s a unique character and a grassroots person. … The (college’s) CEO deserves a certain amount of autonomy,” he said.
Dan Eckstrom confirmed that part of his work as a consultant for PCC was to lobby the county to place the college’s proposed $45 million health-care campus on the next Pima County bond request. “I worked that, yes, but right now, the bond is kind of in limbo because of the audit of Pima County by the state,” Eckstrom said.
But Eckstrom said there’s no potential for conflict, because he doesn’t deal directly with the Pima board members, and his contract didn’t go before them for a vote.
“Boy, I tell you what, people are really creative. I don’t have direct communication with them. I see them at events. … You know what I’ve learned all the years I’ve been around? People come up with ways to look at things, but that doesn’t make it true,” he said.
Asked how he got the contract, Eckstrom said it was through a recommendation from the person who last had the contract—Art Chapa, who died in 2010.
Eckstrom said he bills the county $125 an hour for the work he does, and does not tack on other expenses.
The Weekly is waiting to receive copies of all of Eckstrom’s billing statements, which were requested last week from the college.
Eckstrom said he typically works with the chancellor’s office, but that he has worked with others in the college, too, depending on his assignment. He said he is currently working on the Pima County bond issue and just finished work on the college’s acquisition of Roberts Elementary School from the Tucson Unified School District. He said part of his job was to involve neighborhood groups and other organizations. He said he also worked to help the college acquire county funding to keep the college’s adult-education program operating.
“I guess maybe because I’m getting older, I just don’t worry about these things,” Eckstrom said. “I know what I do, and I do it with confidence. Sometimes, that bothers people.”
This article appears in Apr 19-25, 2012.
Good job Mari! Finally someone that has the guts to investigate and publish what is happening under the current encumbents in the county! I was starting to think that the county BOS and Huck has bought everybody off! Keep the investigative reporting coming….it is refreshing!
As a taxpayer I am interested in the FACTS of the situation and not the “political buyoff” – if there is not anything unethical or afowl then great – but I think we all believe that isn’t the case unfortunately. Just look at all the connections that have been pointed out in this article – whatever happened to good moral judgement and ethics in goverment? The appearance of this is not good! All the good old boys taking care of one another with no regard to the public they serve! Hopefully that will change after the elections!
A reminder that commenting with fake email addresses is against our policy. Thanks, all.
Unless the AG opens an investigation into Dan Eckstrom’s consulting contract with PCC, the real story here is that someone has an axe to grind with Eckstrom…..potenial conflict of interest because he knows people, a source who doesn’t want to be identified….really?
Nice article.
“I guess maybe because I’m getting older, I just don’t worry about these things,” Eckstrom said. “I know what I do, and I do it with confidence. Sometimes, that bothers people.”
Then I suppose, being so politically astute, you would have been confident enough to risk looking this gift-horse in the mouth and determine on your own time if it violates the no-bid contract law. Of course, that would be an expensive inquiry, wouldn’t it.
“Dan Eckstrom confirmed that part of his work as a consultant for PCC was to lobby the county to place the college’s proposed $45 million health-care campus on the next Pima County bond request. “”I worked that, yes, but right now, the bond is kind of in limbo because of the audit of Pima County by the state,” Eckstrom said.
This is another example of mismanagement of College funds. #1 – why are the taxpayers paying Eckstrom to lobby the County to include PCC in the next bond election for a 45 million dollar new health care campus? Isn’t that what West Campus is?? #2 – the money used for PCC consultants could buy alot of tutoring or more classes. I hope the AG office investigates. The Chancellor, the Chief Financial Officer and the Board are wasting dollars and should be held accountable.
PCC in the news again. This Board once again proves their ineptness. PCC needs new board members along with a new chancellor. No more needless consultants!!!!!!
Flores pays off Eckstrom to make sure the County folks and the PCC board members with ties to Eckstrom, namely – Longoria and Marshall vote his way. Now it makes sense.
Eckstrom hasn’t changed – it’s all about the money. Who ever pays him the most – he’ll support. Eckstrom is a good con – claims to be all for helping the needy people but all about the money.
After reading the comments, to me, the story is why Janet Marcotte, Exec. Director of the YWCA, is defending one of the most utterly corrupt politicians that Tucson has ever known? Lest we forget that Eckstrom was forced to step down from the County Supes amid FBI investigations into his misappropriation and embezzlement of federal funds.
http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2006/09/0…
Marcotte defends Eckstrom, just as she has defended John Pedicone and Mark Stegeman, every step of the way, as they have dismantled TUSD Mexican-American Studies. The word is already out about Janet Marcotte, who has worked tirelessly to harm Tucson’s Mexican-American community, while also profiting from that destruction. Racism is good for business, right? You couldn’t truly “eliminate” it, could you, because then how could you stay in business? The question that I have, then, is that given Marcotte’s tireless defense of tyrants and corrupt politicians, whose pocket is she in?
This seems like a mountain made from a mole hill. What does Eckstrom actually do for PCC? Part of his job was listed. What else? Hiring former politicians as lobbyists or consultants (because they know people and are influential) is commonplace in the US. Correct, that doesn’t make it right, but on the scale of things Ecksttrom is a big fish in a very small pond.
If the Weekly wants to muckrake and investigate familial relationships and possible conflicts of interest, how about looking into the multiple Romeros, Eliases, etc. in city and county government?
“Asked how he got the contract, Eckstrom said it was through a recommendation from the person who last had the contract—Art Chapa, who died in 2010.”
But it says Eckstrom was hired in 2007 to take over Chapa’s job — three years before Chapa died.
So they were both being paid for the same job?
And Chapa was a high paid lobbyist for Pima County at the same time. Was that double dipping?
And why is the county bond proposals on hold just because there may be an audit done? Is there a lot of concern that the auditor may find inappropriate expenditures?
There are a great many questions unanswered here.
Re: “Questionable Hires”
Thank you for this article Mari.
Now watch out for horseheads in you bed.
Art Chapa was an overpaid lobbyist for Pima County for many years, and was involved in many shady dealings as a bag man for the Eckstrom machine. The fact that Chapa (and Flores) “gave” Eckstrom “his” job several years before he died — without following any procurement rules at the college — says it all. In fact, it was the procurement scandal at Pima County in 2000 that exposed the Eckstrom/Chapa deals that were investigated by the Feds (FBI) which lead to Eckstrom’s resignation from the Board of Supervisors. But obviously that did not stop him from continuing his antics. He makes even more now than he did as a board member.
It should also not be forgotten that Eckstrom also dominated the Rio Nuevo district before the state took it over. We are all still looking for that $230 million of taxpayer loss. He was also instrumental in the hiring of Mike Hein as City Manager, and we know how that turned out. And Eckstrom still dominates not only the Board of Supervisors, but the PAG/RTA through Ramon Valadez who hired Eckstrom’s daughter who is the mayor of South Tucson.
Woody Gutherie once said “Tucson ain’t nothin’ but a rich man’s bitch.” This obviously still holds true today.
Oh, dear residents of Pima County Arizona! I retired from Pima County in October 2005 after 26 and 1/2 years, and saw so much graft in this Democrat hell-hole it was unbelievable! I retired at age 62 just to get out of there, I couldn’t stand even one more minute!!! That good old boy network they have there in Pima County rivals that of Chicago, Illinois!!! Graft, Graft and more Graft!!!!!