ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL — The federal indictment of former County Executive Steve Stenger, revealed Monday, names a handful of companies as recipients of government work resulting from alleged pay-to-play schemes, including those controlled by businessman John Rallo.
But newly mentioned was "Company One," a lobbying firm seeking work as a state lobbyist for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
The indictment portrays Stenger as desperate to secure the contract for the company, a contributor to both his 2014 and 2018 campaigns. The company was not named in the indictment, but it says that after Stenger staff pressured then-partnership CEO Sheila Sweeney, the partnership's board on Dec. 12 approved the contract, worth $149,000 for 2019.
A partnership spokeswoman, Allison Hawk, would not name the company, saying that "based upon the ongoing investigation we cannot share further information at this time."
But the agenda for the Partnership's Dec. 12 meeting identifies John Bardgett& Associates Inc., a legislative consultancy with offices in Chesterfield and Jefferson City, as the firm seeking to serve as its state liaison.