New investigative reporting from 11Alive reveals billionaire Rick Jackson just extended one of his companies’ multimillion dollar state contracts into 2027 – well past the start of the next governor’s term. This flies in the face of Jackson’s promise that he would “unwind” his state contracts if elected governor. Jackson’s contract extension is just the latest example of Jackson’s rampant self-dealing and pervasive conflicts of interest.
11Alive’s Doug Richards reports that last month, Jackson’s healthcare staffing company LocumTenens extended its contract with the Georgia Department Of Behavioral Health And Developmental Disabilities (GDBHDD) through June 30, 2027.This contract, originating in FY22, has netted Jackson nearly $18 million – and $5 million in just the past year alone.
Overall, Jackson has made nearly a billion dollars in taxpayer-funded, no-bid contracts.
“This bombshell report just goes to show that Rick Jackson has no intention of stopping his extensive self-dealing. What’s more, he’s looking to buy the Governor’s Mansion so he can further line his pockets on the backs of Georgia taxpayers,” said Democratic Party of Georgia spokesperson Jake Strickland. “As Jackson’s extensive conflicts of interests come to light, it’s obvious that Jackson’s fighting to boost his bottom line – not to help Georgians.”
HEADLINE: Despite pledge to “unwind” his business, Rick Jackson extends a state contract
- A company owned by GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson has signed a new contract worth millions to provide health services to a state agency. This comes after the billionaire Jackson said he would unwind his state business if elected.
- Jackson’s company signed the contract renewal with the state less than a month ago, on July 22. It expires six months after the next governor is sworn into office.
- Much of Rick Jackson’s $3 billion fortune comes from healthcare services rooted in Jackson Healthcare. One of its subsidiaries, Locum Tenens, provides temporary healthcare workers to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health.
- State records show the state agency has paid Locum Tenens $17,903,044 since 2022. One of the renewal documents shows Rick Jackson’s signature.
- At a campaign appearance just last week, Jackson renewed his pledge to separate his business from state business.
- “I don’t want even the appearance that there’s ethics impropriety and all that,” he said Wednesday when asked about his business with the state. “I never will do business with the state of Georgia,” as governor, he said.
- Jackson’s comments came 21 days after his company renewed its business contract with the state of Georgia. State records show the Department of Behavioral Health extended that contract to June 30, 2027. The next governor’s term would begin six months earlier.
- We’ve reached out to Jackson’s campaign for comment.
- At an event late last week, Jackson’s Democratic opponent hinted that Jackson’s ongoing state business had already drawn interest.
- “He says he’s going to dial back his business with the state, but my understanding is that just last week, he got another contract from the state,” former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told reporters in Cobb County. “So don’t just say it. Do it. To thine own self be true. He should start with ethics and transparency in his own dealings.”
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