DC Council To Review Preferential City Contracts

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- DC Councilman Kwame Brown, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee is asking the Fenty administration for the records of RBK Lawn and Construction Company as well as those of other firms that claim to be based in the District with the owners also residing here.

Those owners are getting preferential points when competing for city contracts.

RBK has a reported eleven million dollars in DC Government contracts.

RBK owner Keith Lomax has two properties, one on Minnesota avenue Northeast and another more spacious residence in Fort Washington, Maryland.

Interviews with neighbors at both places point to the Maryland residence as the place where he and his family actually reside, where they entertain friends and where their son attends Prince George's County schools.

They say Lomax rents the Minnesota avenue, Northeast townhouse to a Police Officer.

A. Scott Bolden, Lomax's attorney said on Wednesday that his client has a residence and office at the Minnesota avenue address, pays taxes and meets the requirements of the small business law that covers preferential points. He carries a DC drivers license and votes in DC.

Councilman Brown says a person living in Florida with a house in DC does not meet the intent of a residency law meant to help city residents and small business owners.

Brown adds the Fenty administration is late in submitting new regulations to close the loopholes.