Child Protective Services Purchasing Director on Leave Amid Contract Investigation

AUSTIN — The purchasing director at Child Protective Services has been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into a "substantial" contract awarded to a private vendor that may have violated ethics rules or state law. Frianita Wilson was placed on emergency leave Thursday, the second time she has had to take leave because of questions about contracting. The latest investigation involves a pending contract between the Department of Family and Protective Services, CPS' parent, and a nonprofit where Wilson's husband works, according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman. Doug Wilson, Frianita's husband and the former inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission, told the Austin American-Statesman on Friday that officials at the commission are unfairly targeting him and his wife. He said his wife disclosed his ties with the nonprofit in question to the commission. "Once again, my wife and I are being placed underneath a cloud," he said. "We're not pleased by it. This time, my wife and I are not going to take this sitting down. We're tired of being picked on."   Continue reading...