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| Paula Harris HISD Board President |
The report by an independent publication examined what its author considered a questionable business relationship between Harris and long time friend and HISD contractor Nicole West.
The article details how West allegedly racked up more than $28 million in HISD contracts over the years while also enjoying a close friendship with Harris and her family.
But a call to the district Thursday reveals the article may be just that, an article.
A spokesman for HISD tells the Insite every issue pointed out in the report is not a violation of the district's policy or ethics.
Jason Spencer with HISD also says a majority of the contracts West received were in place long before Harris was elected as President of the board - so there was no questionable influence.
However, the article also points out hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional contracts West or her company Westco received since Harris was elected HISD President.
Spencer says there is no proof showing Harris financially benefited from her ties to West despite the article's information showing there were votes where the President did not abstain.
When asked if there was a complaint filed or any type of Office of Inspector General investigation underway into Harris - Spencer said no.
He says, "just imagine if no one could do business with a friend...then you would also have to define friend."
So, while the article into HISD board President Paula Harris made for great reading and water cooler chat - it has not resulted in an investigation into the attorney and her close friend.
Here's a link to the original article: http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2011/06/houston-school-hisd-trustees-president-paula-harris-voted-on-millions-of-dollars-in-contracts-for-friends-firm/1307584698.story
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