Munger used Memorial consultant to launch mayoral campaign

Mayoral hopeful Dave Munger, who pledged to restore trust in government, asked a public relations firm that he recommended for a $93,000 contract with Memorial Health System to help launch his campaign this week “as a favor to him.”

Munger, a member of the commission exploring the future of the city-owned health system, had a contractor for the Lisa Bachman PR Group e-mail a news release Wednesday announcing his candidacy.

Munger heads the commission’s Community Engagement Committee, which recommended the hiring of Bachman’s firm to help the commission with logistics and public relations. Memorial is paying the bill.

“I did not know he had sent that out,” Lisa Bachman said, referring to contract employee Bryan Grossman, who is the son of her business partner, Barry Grossman.

“He was asked by Dave Munger ... if he had an e-mail (list) of media and if he would be willing, on his own, as a favor to him, to send it out, and Bryan said, ‘Sure, no problem,’” Bachman said.

Neither Munger, president of the Council of Neighbors and Organizations, nor his press secretary, Madeleine Mellini, returned calls for comment Thursday.

Bob Lally, chairman of the Citizens’ Commission on Ownership and Governance of Memorial Health System, said Munger made a “political mistake” but not one that warrants his resignation.

“He needs to just be aware that people are watching him now, and he’s got to scrutinize himself,” Lally said.

But Ken Cantin, who applied to serve on the commission but was turned down, said Munger should resign immediately.|

“With his position (on) the commission, (Munger) will turn every public meeting into a campaign opportunity,” Cantin said in an e-mail to Mayor Lionel Rivera, council members and Lally.

When Munger announced his candidacy at the Phantom Canyon restaurant downtown, he told a room full of supporters he would work full-time to restore trust in government.

“Restoring trust requires a mayor who believes in the public process and the people of this city. It requires one who is free of conflicts of interest. Indeed, our first mission is to restore the people’s trust,” he said.

Bachman downplayed Munger’s request to Bryan Grossman, saying Grossman sent the news release on his own time. Still, she acknowledged the “stakes are different” now that Munger is a mayoral candidate.

“Should (Bryan Grossman) have had my approval? No. Should it have been a question mark? Yes. Regardless, it’s not appropriate,” she said.