State May Cancel Contracts in Campbell-Related Case

The state architect’s office said Tuesday it may cancel $347,000 worth of contracts with a Louisiana asbestos removal consultant for whom the office of state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) intervened last year.

The reason the office cited is that the company allowed its state-mandated registration to lapse earlier this month.

A spokeswoman for the office, which administers a program to remove the carcinogenic material from state buildings, said the state architect will issue a letter today giving Asbestos Environmental Controls Inc. of New Orleans until July 3 to re-register with the state for the work.

The firm’s registration lapsed on June 10, according to state records.

Gordon Goldman, company president, said Tuesday his company has already applied to the state for re-registration, which will be completed in about 30 days.

He also said he contacted the state architect’s office Tuesday to tell state officials of the pending re-registration.

Goldman’s company has come under scrutiny since published reports said a top aide to Campbell allegedly pressured the state architect’s office to continue doing business with the Louisiana company last year.

Records show that Goldman and his company contributed $27,000 to Campbell campaign committees in 1987-88.

On Monday, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission opened an investigation into contributions made to Campbell by Goldman, including free limousine service last year during the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.

Goldman said Tuesday that the service cost about $600, but Campbell failed to list the gift. State law requires disclosure of gifts worth more than $50.