Whisnant calls for audit of travel co.’s state contract

State Rep. Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) said Tuesday he has asked Oregon State Auditor Gary Blackmer to conduct a financial and performance audit of the Department of Administration’s contract with Azumano Travel.

Whisnant submitted his request to Director Blackmer on Nov. 18 and asked that the audit specifically explore why the state’s contract with the travel agency has not been competed or reviewed for performance since 2005.

“I was troubled to learn that the State of Oregon has maintained an exclusive contract with Azumano Travel for more than a decade, without ever opening up that contract for competing bids,” Whisnant said.

“Further, it appears as though former Governor Kitzhaber approved a loan of taxpayer funds to Azumano Travel despite clear warning signs that the company was facing serious financial uncertainties.

“Our government has a responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed in the most transparent and frugal manner possible. I am requesting an audit of the state’s contractual history with Azumano Travel so that we may learn the full details of this relationship and discover how to prevent situations like this from occurring in the future,” he added.

Whisnant’s decision to request the audit came after Willamette Week reported that Oregon officials used Azumano Travel to book a recent trip to Asia. Willamette Week’s reporting also raised questions about the scope and nature of the state’s contractual history with the travel agency.