NORFOLK (CN) - Civil rights activists are requesting that a special prosecutor look into whether a Norfolk city councilman unlawfully steered hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to his private business.
According to the petitioners, who are members of an organization called United Front for Justice, Councilman Barclay Winn secured more than $254,000 by directing a lucrative city landscaping contract to his firm, Winn Nursery of Virginia Inc.
Activists Ronald Green and Roy Perry-Bey claim the contract for work at the city's Town Pointe Park was awarded after an unlawful bidding process in which firms proffering lower bids than Winn Nursery were excluded from the process.
They further claim that no one in the city or the Commonwealth attorney's office made an attempt to investigate the matter after being notified of the activists' concerns.
On August 29, Norfolk Circuit Court Judge John Doyle granted the petitioners a hearing on their request.
Courthouse News attempted to speak with the councilman, but was told he was unavailable for comment.
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