Executives with the construction firm and state contractor Gilbane Building Co. donated $3,750 to the Connecticut Democratic Party’s federal account last month.
A party’s federal account can accept donations from any U.S. citizen including banned state contractors, making the state-level prohibition on their contributions moot.
Providence-based Gilbane has seen a growing amount of state business in recent years. According to the legislature’s transparency website, the state paid Gilbane about $900,000 in 2010, $1.5 million in 2011, $12.5 million in 2012 and $37.4 million in 2013.
The company is also part of the Stamford Manhattan Development Ventures. DOT selected the SMDV joint venture as preferred developer last year on a redevelopment project expected to cost half a billion dollars.
Although DOT selected SMDV, the agency has not announced a contract with the joint venture. The SMDV partners are JHM Group, Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation, ECCO III Enterprises and Gilbane.
Employees of the SMDV partners have been generously donating to the Democratic Party’s federal account.
– Weeks after DOT selected SMDV, John McClutchy Jr. of the JHM Group gave a $10,000 contribution to the state party. His wife and son each gave $10,000 as well.
– In November, employees of Buffalo-based joint-venture members gave another $27,500.
– In December, employees of SMDV partners contributed $32,500.
The contributions of Gilbane employees bring the running
total to $93,750 since the announcement of preferred developer status.
Gilbane is also working on the $135 million Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington paid for with a forgivable state loan.
The state’s list of banned contractors does not include SMDV even though its principals are banned from making state-level political contributions.