Questions of influence

CONTRACTING AND questionable practices have too often been synonymous in the District. So the D.C. Council's decision to heed its experts in approving a new lottery contract was a reassuring sign of good government. Too bad, though, that the action came amid new questions being raised about Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray's vote in awarding a lucrative contract to a firm that did work on his house.

The council's 9 to 1 vote last week gave a contract worth nearly $40 million over five years to Intralot, a Greek-owned multinational firm. That had been the recommendation -- twice -- of D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi following two rigorous solicitations for bids. The contract got stuck in controversy when political allies of GTech, longtime operators of the lottery who were outbid, successfully lobbied council members not to give the contract to Intralot. Controversy also surrounded the second round of bidding, with GTech arguing that the denial of certification to its local small-business partner was unfair and robbed the firm of the extra points that would have made it the winner. If the company has a legitimate grievance, the proper avenues for redress are the contracts appeal process and the courts -- not the lobbying of political buddies at the Wilson Building. Indeed, it is those principles of open process and fair play that council members have rightfully invoked as they have taken Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to task for ramming through millions of dollars of parks contracts without proper council review.

It is also those tenets that require an independent review of work done on Mr. Gray's house by a company owned by mega-developer Chris Smith. Since the Washington Times first raised questions about the work done under the auspices of William C. Smith & Co., Mr. Gray has said that he is a friend of Mr. Smith but that he does not recall ever voting on anything related to his company. But, as the Times reported last week, Mr. Gray voted in July, the same month work was being done on his home, to award an $86 million contract to Smith & Co. To be fair to Mr. Gray, the mayor recommended the contract, and the council vote was unanimous. Mr. Gray paid for the work on his house, but there are questions about the lack of permits and whether the firm billed the chairman only after receiving inquiries from the newspaper. It's in the city's interests -- and Mr. Gray's -- to clear the air.