Kwame and Carlita Kilpatrick check in with their three sons at the American Airlines ticket counter at Detroit Metro on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. (Velvet S. McNeil / The Detroit News)
A state official was worried a portion of $800,000 in state grants given to groups headed by Kwame Kilpatrick’s pastor and friend funded his 2001 mayoral campaign, a budget official testified Tuesday.
A state official started inquiring after learning about $137,000 in state grant money was given to Kilpatrick’s wife Carlita and her company, former state budget official Kelly Bartlett testified Tuesday.
“I was concerned that we needed to know whether or not some of the funds, which now appeared were going to Mrs. Kilpatrick, were turning into campaign contributions for the mayoral campaign,” Bartlett testified.
Bishop Edgar Vann
He was surprised to learn a group headed by Bishop Edgar Vann gave part of the grant money to Carlita Kilpatrick’s company U.N.I.T.E. And $100,000 was given to her by Bobby Ferguson’s nonprofit, Detroit 3D.
He searched state campaign finance reports and wrote a draft letter to the state Attorney General’s office to get an opinion on whether the state could recoup the state grants or stop funding the groups.
Bartlett, who now works as director of government affairs for the Michigan Department of Transportation, also tried discussing the issue with then-Gov. John Engler’s legal counsel.
But Bartlett was unable to get an appointment.