The Jennifer Mann Relationship That Really Bothers Me

My story last week about State Rep. Jennifer Mann and the precise nature of her relationship to fired firefighter and registered lobbyist Richard Gawlick, has raised a few eyebrows. Her personal life is her own business, but her public office is very much open to scrutiny. So I do care when someone trying to see Mann is passed off to a registered lobbyist and possible boyfriend. But all that pales in the face of another relationship that Mann herself freely admits. It's with a big spender, but she won't tell me how much she's paid for her services. She was nice enough to call me on Sunday, so I can tell you her side of the story.

Mann Denies Constituents Passed on to Gawlick

After twelve years, Jennifer occupies powerful leadership positions within the state house. She's Majority Caucus Secretary as well as a member of the Rules Committee, without which midnight sausage-making is impossible. I understand she even has a newer, and bigger, Harrisburg office.

In addition to what I told you last week, I've been told of one other person who had an appointment to see Mann in Harrisburg about two months ago, but was passed on to Richard Gawlick.

Mann, who has a staff of seven people, claims these allegations are "totally false." Noting that these people are unwilling to come forward and identify themselves, she adds, "That's funny, isn't it?"

"I work very hard, and take the respect and trust of other people very seriously," she told me in a Sunday evening telephone call. While acknowledging that she knows Gawlick as the political director of the statewide firefighters' association, she insists she has not seen him in her office for the past six months. She denies that Gawlick is paid by the state for his services, either as a House employee or under some form of contract, and dismisses the anonymous claims as "absolute nonsense." She also claims to have been slandered.

So why did her office give me the bum's rush last week? Her press dude actually hung up on me. "In my opinion, that was not handled very well. Very candidly, it was handled without interaction with me. I've always prided myself on being very direct and open in answering questions. You are right to expect that," says the legislator.

She also insists that the personal accusations about Gawlick are "unfounded." Frankly, I did not pursue it beyond that. She laments that elected leaders already have terrible reputations, being considered little better than a used car salesman.

"Could be worse," I joked. "You could be a blogger."

Frosty silence on the other end.

Maybe the cell reception was bad.

Mann More Reticent About Ties to Architectural and Engineering Firm Vitetta

"I've never been known as a person who dodges a question, and never will be," she told me Sunday night in a conversation that she herself initiated. But when I asked her to tell us how much money she gets from Vitetta, that's exactly what happened. She refused to answer, telling me she has no legal obligation to disclose exact amounts.

I first spoke with Mann about this three years ago, the only time I've ever talked to her. All I knew at that time was that she was doing some kind of consulting, and I incorrectly thought it had something to do with a small business she ran before seeking a seat in the state house.

Well, Vitetta is no mom-and-pop shop. It's a heavy hitter, both with the state and locally. It has offices in seven different states, and its own webpage reveals involvement in construction projects like the Pennsylvania Judicial Center, Pennsylvania Judicial Center Parking Garage, Pennsylvania Capitol, PennDOT Materials Testing Laboratory and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission-Service Plaza Reconstruction.

Many of these jobs are awarded by the state's Department of General Services. Until just a few weeks ago, that office was run by Lehigh Valley native and friend James Creedon. He still implements stimulus projects on a contract basis, and serves with Mann on the Stimulus Oversight Commission. There, they both get a head's up on where the state intends to spend federal stimulus dollars.

In addition to her Creedon ties, Mann actually dated Sean Pressman. He was Chief of Staff in General Services between 2/1/06 and 6/19/09.

Did Vitetta benefit as a result? I'm certain it's one of the reasons they wanted her.

Annual statements of financial interest for the past three years (2009, 2008 , 2007) reveal that Vitetta has been paying Mann, although the amounts are unstated.

In addition to consulting fees, Vitetta principal Allan Hoffman contributed $2,500 to Mann in 2008. Bonus?

Mann states she identifies business opportunities for Vitetta. Isn't she essentially trading on inside knowledge gained as a State Rep.? I've told her I believe she is using her public office improperly. In her defense, Mann did get clearance from the state ethics commission. She was warned against using her official position to solicit business. My concern is that no matter what she says, her elected office in and of itself is a form of pressure.

Mann tells me that precisely because of that "very fair concern," she stays away from all the local governments. "It's just not worth it," she said. She concedes that she may "have reached out to some regional school boards," although she does not make the initial contact.

Gee, how would you like to be an Easton or Bangor school supervisor who gets a call from Vitetta telling you that State Rep. Jennifer Mann would like to talk to you about the engineering firm you hire for your next middle school?

Let's face it. The not-so-subtle pressure of her powerful public office, in and of itself, should rule out this kind of moonlighting job.