Tempe 911 provider funds Hutson's re-election

Tempe City Councilman Hut Hutson took thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from an ambulance company after voting to give it a high-paying exclusive city contract.

Hutson accepted about $5,300 from Professional Medical Transport about two weeks after the council unanimously awarded the firm exclusive rights on the city's 911 calls.

Hutson, slugging it out in a tough re-election campaign, said he solicited the money from PMT president Bob Ramsey, but can't remember if it was before or after the Feb. 7 vote.

The timing is important because he and other city officials were banned from speaking to PMT officials while the contract was undecided. It's a typical requirement with any city contract under consideration to guard against undo influence.

"I've asked so many people for money I just don't know," Hutson said Wednesday. "Anyone who knows me knows my vote can't be influenced, no matter what they bring to the table."

Ramsey said he can't recall Hutson himself ever asking for money. He said he donated only after receiving a request in the mail asking for political contributions.

In total, 16 employees and family members of PMT and its related companies gave $5,320 to Hutson between Feb. 19 and 28, according to city records. Among the other candidates running for council seats, PMT donated about $600.

Ramsey said he never orchestrated an effort to get Hutson the cash he wanted, but he "may have pushed a few employees."

"A lot of this was done by the employees themselves," Ramsey said. "A lot of people know him. He's been around a long time."

Both Hutson and Ramsey said the two men and their families have been close for more than 30 years. Hutson said he never felt uncomfortable voting on contracts involving his friend and was aware that some would try to characterize it as unethical.

"I've told him that friendship is friendship and business is business," Hutson said. "This was business."

Hutson was first elected to the council in 2004 and over the past year raised more than $50,000 to wage his re-election campaign. Despite the large sum of money for a council candidate, he finished fourth out of seven candidates in the city's primary election.

That forced Hutson into the general election - coming up on Tuesday - along with three others. The four are vying for two open seats. The race is expected to be very close and could be decided by a slim margin.

Competition for Tempe's emergency service contract had been fierce, just as it had been in other cities throughout the East Valley.

Over the past several years. PMT and rival Southwest Ambulance have duked it out over emergency contracts in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Chandler.

Southwest lost in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley after protracted fights with PMT. Chandler officials took a different path and decided to split the city in half - with one company getting the north side and the other the south.

Although the Tempe council voted 6-0 in February to give PMT the contract, the agreement was almost immediately passed on to the Arizona Department of Health for review.

The state health department oversees ambulance providers. Among other things, it certifies which companies can operate in the state and sets rates a company can charge patients. After review, the state sent the contract back to the city in April with a host of changes.

Regardless, the council voted again this month to approve the new deal. PMT took over last week, ending Southwest's 20-year reign as the city's emergency service provider.

Now, Southwest is protesting the award of the contract, contending it is substantially different than the one the companies initially bid on.