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Midfield firms big donors: most contractors on $974m project gave to Peterson's campaign.

Article Excerpt
Nearly two-thirds of long-term contracts awarded for the midfield airport terminal so far have been to firms that directly or through their top executives made campaign contributions last year to Mayor Bart Peterson. The mayor has made the $974 million project a priority despite a severe airline industry slump.

Of the 45 contractors who have won $83 million in work on a new terminal at Indianapolis International Airport, 29 donated a total of at least $219,951 to the mayor as he won a second term, an IBJ review of Peterson's campaign documents shows.

The review of contracts awarded through Oct. 4 was compared with the 2003 campaign finance records filed by Peterson, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent, Greg Jordan.

The donations involving 64 percent of the long-term contractors for the mid field project were made directly by the firms, by their top executives or both.

The highest individual donation to Peterson was $21,250 from R.W. Armstrong President Roland Salman. The Indianapolis-based consulting firm has a $2.7 million engineering contract for the terminal.

"I've been friends with the mayor for a long time ... and I like to support good government," said Salman, who said the firm's expertise landed it the contract.

Donations from midfield contractors amounted to about 5 percent of Peterson's $4.4 million in campaign contributions. Of the contributors who won midfield contracts, just one appears to have donated to both Peterson and Jordan.

The mayor appoints five of the Indianapolis Airport Authority's seven board members, who approve contracts. The chairman of the airport board is Lacy Johnson, who has hosted Peterson fundraisers in his home. And Peterson appointed fellow Democrat John Kish as midfield project director responsible for evaluating contract proposals.

"For the public, it just reinforces the attitude that this is a big chase for money, that perhaps not the most qualified contractor got the work," said Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause of Indiana.

Whatever the appearance, "There is absolutely no connection or...