Houston school board President Paula Harris said this afternoon that she never spoke with the school district's procurement director about a contract with a company run by a close friend.
“I've never met (Stephen) Pottinger,” Harris said of the Houston Independent School District’s procurement director at the time. “I wouldn't know him if he walked in front of me.”
E-mails released by the school district show Pottinger had e-mailed Harris in mid-November about Westco, a firm owned and run by Harris' close friend Nicole West. Five months later the school board voted to approve $8 million in contracts with companies including Westco.
Harris had previously told Texas Watchdog that she had never discussed with HISD officials the possibility of West doing business with the district.
See the original Texas Watchdog featured report by clicking here.
Harris said Pottinger’s e-mail was prompted by her call to HISD Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett. Harris asked asked Garrett to meet with multiple companies whose names had been crossed off a board meeting agenda last year.
Westco “and other contracts were on the original agenda, but there was a line crossed through them,” Harris said during a telephone interview. “Companies were calling me asking me, 'What does that mean?’ I called Melinda to find out.”
Harris said that she never spoke with or e-mailed Pottinger. “He e-mailed me,” Harris said. She said she spoke only to Garrett about meeting with the companies.
Pottinger, who was recently fired by the school district, did not return messages for comment left at his home Wednesday or Thursday.
Harris said Pottinger’s e-mail was prompted by her call to HISD Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett. Harris asked asked Garrett to meet with multiple companies whose names had been crossed off a board meeting agenda last year.
Westco “and other contracts were on the original agenda, but there was a line crossed through them,” Harris said during a telephone interview. “Companies were calling me asking me, 'What does that mean?’ I called Melinda to find out.”
Harris said that she never spoke with or e-mailed Pottinger. “He e-mailed me,” Harris said. She said she spoke only to Garrett about meeting with the companies.
Pottinger, who was recently fired by the school district, did not return messages for comment left at his home Wednesday or Thursday.
***
Contact Mike Cronin at 713-228-2850 or mike@texaswatchdog.org or on Twitter at @michaelccronin.
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