The Racine Journal Times is reporting that Racine County Executive William McReynolds may have been up to some funny business when he was county sheriff.  Citing documents posted on an organization's website, the RJT states the following:

"While County Executive William McReynolds was sheriff, the Racine County Sheriff's Department bought at least $5,840 in products from a company McReynolds partly owned."

The Racine Journal Times is reporting that Racine County Executive William McReynolds may have been up to some funny business when he was county sheriff.  Citing documents posted on an organization's website, the RJT states the following:

While County Executive William McReynolds was sheriff, the Racine County Sheriff's Department bought at least $5,840 in products from a company McReynolds partly owned.

William McReynolds was one-third owner of the limited liability corporation Force Engineering from its beginning in 2000 to its dissolution in 2005.  The company made "push bumpers" for squad cars and conveniently sold them to the Racine County Sheriff's Department while McReynolds was sheriff. 

Although there are many companies that could have sold the "push bumpers" to the Racine County Sheriff's Department, the purchasing agent for the department conveniently chose his bosses company.

According to the RJT article, Racine County rules state that any purchases over $1,000 are required to go through a competitive bidding process.  They report that at least two of the purchases from McReynold's company were over this limit.  Strangely, they state that at the time that the story was written they were unable to confirm if there actually was a bidding process for these two purchases. 

The right wing in this state have jumped on every accusation about their political enemies and demanded investigations and attempt to convict by innuendo.  I have to wonder where their calls are for a complete investigation in this smelly situation.  If McReynolds and the GOP don't have anything to hide then they should publicly encourage an independent investigation in this matter.  Just imagine what the GOP would be saying right now if it was Jim Doyle that owned a private company and sat by as his subordinates made a few bucks for their boss on the side.  Then consider that there may not have been a competitive bid either.  What do you think they would be saying right now?

Here are some questions that I would seek answers to if I were investigating this situation:

1. Did McReynold's Department follow the county's rules and take competitive bids for these purchases?
2. If there were bids, who was involved in rating the companies and if they were scored, which company ranked highest?
3. Was McReynolds using Racine County property or accounts to do his personal business for Force Engineering or any of his other past or current businesses? 

Anyone in the traditional media, law enforcement, bloggers or John Q. Public can feel free to use any of these profound suggestions.  Taxpayers in Racine County deserve to know if a candidate for State Senate has not already abused his authority for his own personal enrichment.