by Kevin Rennie

The Courant’s Dave Altimari raises more eyebrows with a story on politically aggressive and connected law firm Pullman & Comley winning a sweet legal contract to represent the state’s new airport authority. Altimari reports that Pullman & Comley won the deal despite bidding $100,000 more than a second finalist.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s legal counsel, Andrew McDonald was a partner at the Bridgeport-based firm before joining Malloy’s administration after the former Stamford mayor was elected governor in 2010. Pullman & Comley had a close ally at the heart of the decision-making process. McDonald’s spouse, hospitality industry executive Charles Gray, is a member of the airport authority and voted to award the contract to Pullman & Comley, according to draft minutes of the authority’s meeting. By the time the full board, including Gray, voted on February 2nd, the deal with Pullman & Comley was likely sealed in a subcommittee.

Gray, who was appointed to the authority by Malloy last year, served on the personnel committee that reviewed the law firm bids and recommended his spouse’s former firm for the job. Gray made the November 29th motion to seek outside legal counsel that led to the Pullman contract.

With discontent growing at what some law firms believe is the slipping away of fairness in government entities selecting representation, the airport authority’s decision, with Gray at the center or it, will cause more comment.