PROVIDENCE –The citizens-advocacy group Common Cause has filed a complaint against the political ally at the center of the “ILO” contract controversy that has dogged Gov. Dan McKee since he ascended to the state’s top office in March 2021.

Though Attorney General Peter Neronha found insufficient evidence to file a criminal charge against anyone connected to the “ham-handed” award of a $5.2 million education consulting contract to ILO, Common Cause Rhode Island on Thursday filed a complaint with the secretary of state against McKee ally Michael Magee.

What is Common Cause alleging?

The allegation: That Magee aggressively lobbied the executive branch to award a contract to the newly created ILO Group headed by Julia Rafal-Baer – who had been an associate at his nonprofit “Chiefs for Change” – without officially registering as a lobbyist.

In a letter to the lobbying arm of Secretary of State Gregg Amore’s office, Common Cause Rhode Islandrequested an investigation of Magee’s alleged failure to register as a lobbyist, as well as sanctions for his alleged violation of the state’s lobbying law.

Filed by Common Cause Executive Director John Marion, the letter references documents released by Neronha and the Rhode Island State Police in late October, at the conclusion of their investigation into the awarding of a state contract to the ILO Group, LLC.

More: AG’s office releases results of ILO investigation. What does it mean for McKee?

“The investigation into how the ILO Group was awarded a state contract exposed politics at its worst, including a procurement process full of back-scratching,” Marion said Thursday.

“We are disappointed that the state’s public integrity laws did not protect against the unethical behavior revealed in the ILO Group investigations,” Marion continued. “While ultimately few may be held accountable, Rhode Islanders deserve to know this behavior won’t be repeated.”

Among the findings Common Cause cited as evidence of unregistered lobbying:

• A Zoom call on March 5, 2021 with McKee, the governor’s then-Chief of Staff Anthony Silva, then-Director of Administration James Thorsen and state Purchasing Agent Nancy McIntyre during which “Magee introduced the idea of hiring ILO as a consulting firm.”
• “Following that meeting, Magee sent an email to Thorsen and McIntyre in which he attempted to narrow the field of those firms able to bid on the contract by including terms favorable to ILO.”
• “The state police [concluded] that, ‘When read in the context of Magee’s prior communications tothe governor’s office, his advocating for one vendor to DOA officials suggests Magee’s continued intent to have [ILO Group CEO, Julia] Rafal-Baer receive the contract.’”

Common Cause also requests an Ethics Commission investigation

Based on Neronha’s publicly reported findings, Common Cause also petitioned the state’s Ethics Commission to amend its gift rules to encompass the unusual situation that came to light during the attorney general’s ILO probe.

The investigators uncovered a previously undisclosed contract in which Chiefs for Change engaged another company, SKDK, at $15,000-a-month, to provide then-Lt. Gov. McKee and his staff with advise in the lead up to his ascent to governor.

In the petition to the Ethics Commission, Marion noted the narrow wording of the current $25 limit on gifts from those who have a “direct financial interest in a decision that the person subject to the Code of Ethics is authorized to make or participate in [making] as part of his or her official duties.”

“Common Cause Rhode Island believes that the current requirement that there be a financial nexus for the ‘gift rule’ to apply is insufficiently protective of the public interest,” he wrote.

He asked the Commission to amend the gift rule to include “lobbyists as a class.”

His argument: “When registered lobbyists, who by definition are paid to influence public officials, are giving gifts to those same public officials, it undermines ‘the public trust,’ gives the ‘appearance of impropriety,’ and suggeststhat public officials are using their official positions for ‘private gain.’”

He also asked:

• That the Commission require public officials and employees to disclose any gift received if, “under the totality of the circumstances, it is more likely than not” they would not have received the gift were it not for their public office or position.
• That the Commission to consider a policy to “better protect the procurement process from political interference.”

Coaches are asked to send in game results by email – pjsports@providencejournal.com – or by calling the Sports desk between 6 and 10 p.m. on weeknights, at (401) 277-7340.

▶GIRLS BASKETBALL

Division I

Bay View 61, Shea/Tolman 44

Strong outings by Qiana Sumner (18 points, 20 rebounds), Mia Forbes (22 points) and Sinai Robinson (15 points) paved the way for the Bengals victory. Leading the way for Pawtucket co-op in the loss were Tiyara Gonzalez, who scored 19 points, and Zareia Colome who was good for 9 points.

Moses Brown 71, Ponaganset  51

Lauren Bousquet poured in 27 points, all from 2-point range, Marielle Nassiff nearly matched her with 26 points — five from outside the arc — and Jaelynn Perez chipped in with 12 points as the Quakers won their second game in three decisions. Marron Nerney led the Chieftain, now 1-1, with 16 points. 

Portsmouth 60, Chariho 36

Gyselle Mairs scored a game-high 21 points, and she also did it defensively, making 5 steals, pacing the Patriots to the victory. Annie Hurd also had a strong game, scoring 8 points and making 7 steals for Portsmouth, which improves to 2-1. Kylie Delemos and Stella Orr chipped in with 8 points apiece. Maddie Fizzanohad 11 points for the Chargers, who fall to -4.

North Kingstown 41, Barrington 37

Division II

Lincoln 41, Cumberland 37, OT

Brielle Lambert had a team-high 13 points and teammate Charlotte Labossierre added 10 more points to help Lincoln escape with a win over Cumberland in overtime. Alexis Parenteau had a game-high 16 points for the Clippers in the loss.

Rogers 45, East Greenwich 38

The visiting Vikings prevailed in this clash. They were led by Tameka Robertson with 14 points. She was supported by 11 points each from Telayiah Aponte and Anyha Walaski as Rogers maintained it lead after halftime. Chloe Hartman led the Avengers in scoring with 9 points. Maeve Kiernan had 8 points and Rowan Carney scored 7. Rogers gets its first victory of the season and is 1-2, while East Greenwich suffers its first loss and is 1-1.

Division II/III

Central 19, Middletown 17

Division III

Pilgrim 44, EWG 32

Lily Hall scored 11 points, including a 5-for-5 performance at the free-throw line, as she led the Patriots to their second win in three games. Avery Marques helped by scoring 8 points and Skylar Hawes and Lia Wasilewski each added 7 for the victors. Niniola Olawuyi led all scorers with 15 points and Isabella Tramonti chipped in with 10 for the Scarlet Knights, now 1-2.

▶BOYS BASKETBALL

Division I/II

Coventry 77, Johnston 40

Riley Finegan paced the Div. II Oakers with 20 points, Brayden Martin recorded 15 points and 9 assists, and Tyler Broady added 12 points and 10 rebounds as Coventry improved to 2-1. For the Div. I Panthers (0-3), Anderson Villa scored a team-high 9 points and Aiden Niel had 8 in the loss. 

Division II

Burrillville 73, Woonsocket 62

Logan Gelinas led the Broncos with 26 points en route to the team’s first league win of the season (1-0). Sean Zanella buried all three of his 3-point shots for 15 points and Alton Kelley added 8 points. For the Novans (0-3), Angel Hernandez led a balanced attack, scoring 16 points, with Andrew Bissonnette adding 15 and Demetri Brin recording 12 in the loss.

▶GIRLS SWIMMING

Barrington 65, Narragansett/South Kingstown 27

Medley Relay ― B, 2:02 2; 200 free ― Ava Webster, B, (No time); 200 IM ― Sadie Brown, B, 2:30.11; 50 free ― Molly Digiacomo, B, 25.29; 100 fly ― Colleen O’Brian, N/SK, 1:05.50; 100 free ― Grace Fontaine, B, 58.58; 500 free ― Addison Bonner, N/SK, 6:02.56; 200 fr ee relay ― B, 1:48.20; 100 back ― Ava Yui, B, 1:08.87; 100 breaststroke ― Webster, B, 1:14.45; 400 free relay ― N/SK, 4:17.40.

▶Thursday’s schedule

BOYS BASKETBALL

Central Falls at Mt. Hope, 5:15 p.m.

Davies at PCD, 5:30 p.m.

Smithfield at Classical, 6 p.m.

Mount Pleasant at East Providence, 6:30 p.m.

Middletown at St. Raphael, 6:30 p.m.

Juanita Sanchez at Chariho, 6:45 p.m.

Pilgrim at West Warwick, 6:45 p.m.

Cumberland at Barrington, 7 p.m.

Lincoln at Shea, 7 p.m.

North Providence at Cranston West, 7 p.m.

Moses Brown vs. Rogers at the Martin Recreation Center, 7 p.m.

South Kingstown at Tiverton, 7 p.m.

Blackstone Valley at EWG, 7 p.m.

Hope at Scituate, 7 p.m.

Westerly at East Greenwich, 7 p.m.

North Kingstown at La Salle, 7:15 p.m.

Prout vs. Paul Cuffee at John Hope Settlement House, 7:15 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Times2 at Davies, 4:30 p.m.

Cranston East at South Kingstown, 5:30 p.m.

Johnston at Narragansett, 6 p.m.

Toll Gate at Mt. Hope, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING

EWG and Chariho at Westerly, 5 p.m.

Toll Gate and Tolman at Cranston East, 5:30 p.m.

Woonsocket at Lincoln, 6 p.m.

La Salle at North Kingstown, 6 p.m.

Juanita Sanchez, Prout at Johnston, 6 p.m.

South Kingstown at Smithfield, 6 p.m.