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Iowa governor, aides appear in PR video for no-bid vendor
Source: Associated Press
Iowa governor, aides appear in PR video for no-bid vendor
By RYAN J. FOLEY
January 8, 2021
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor and four aides helped make a marketing video for a Utah company that was awarded no-bid contracts for work on the coronavirus pandemic, a move that has raised allegations of favoritism and improper use of public resources.
Domo Inc.’s video featured interviews with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, state epidemiologist Caitlin Pedati and chief operations officer Paul Trombino portraying their COVID-19 management as a success for Iowa and the software vendor.
The appearances go against long-standing guidance to avoid any hint of preferential treatment in relationships with contractors. The video put a positive spin on their response to the virus, which has caused more cases and deaths per capita in Iowa than most other states.
Domo’s website removed the video and other Iowa-based marketing materials on Thursday, hours after The Associated Press reported on them.
State Hygienic Laboratory director Michael Pentella said through a University of Iowa spokesman that he was asked to participate in the video by the governor’s office and was not told how the material would be used. Pentella’s appearance — in which he calls Domo “a great planning tool” — may contradict a university policy limiting product endorsements.
-snip-
By RYAN J. FOLEY
January 8, 2021
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor and four aides helped make a marketing video for a Utah company that was awarded no-bid contracts for work on the coronavirus pandemic, a move that has raised allegations of favoritism and improper use of public resources.
Domo Inc.’s video featured interviews with Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, state epidemiologist Caitlin Pedati and chief operations officer Paul Trombino portraying their COVID-19 management as a success for Iowa and the software vendor.
The appearances go against long-standing guidance to avoid any hint of preferential treatment in relationships with contractors. The video put a positive spin on their response to the virus, which has caused more cases and deaths per capita in Iowa than most other states.
Domo’s website removed the video and other Iowa-based marketing materials on Thursday, hours after The Associated Press reported on them.
State Hygienic Laboratory director Michael Pentella said through a University of Iowa spokesman that he was asked to participate in the video by the governor’s office and was not told how the material would be used. Pentella’s appearance — in which he calls Domo “a great planning tool” — may contradict a university policy limiting product endorsements.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/technology-iowa-utah-coronavirus-pandemic-iowa-city-f1c16465802b1d9dba29c2336b8bfd97