Despite the use of contract award procedures that in theory were objective, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission executives working with key political allies in the state's Democratic party routinely made selections of engineers and contractors based on gifts and political contributions, according to a state grand jury report released March 13.
Seated in 2009, the Harrisburg grand jury over the years consulted dozens of witnesses and documents. It charged former Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chief Executive Joseph Brimmeier with violating the state ethics law. He was arraigned before a state judge in Harrisburg March 14 for allegedly playing a key role operating the long-running pay-to-play scheme at the commission.
The grand jury also charged the former Turnpike Chief Operating Officer and Contracts Administrator, George Hatalowich and former Turnpike Commission member Mitch Rubin with various crimes, including violations of state ethics codes for public officials.
Hatalowich, the grand jury charged, “exerted tremendous influence over the internal processes at the Turnpike, resulting in the [awarding of] Turnpike contracts to those vendors favored by certain state officials.”
State Senator Robert Mellow, the Democratic Party leader from Lackawanna County, also allegedly had a leading role in the schemes, according to the grand jury.
Following his appointment by Gov. Ed Rendell in 2003, Brimmeier "quickly aligned himself with Senate Democrats and took orders directly from Senator Mellow" or his chief of staff, the grand jury wrote. Brimmeier followed Mellow's instructions on "the awarding of Turnpike contracts to particular vendors, and political fundraising efforts required of Turnpike personnel and Turnpike vendors."