We’re not sure how anyone misses thousands of dollars of extra plumbing work. Mark Andrew did. We’re wondering what the Minneapolis water and sewer systems would be like if he’s elected mayor.
Former county commissioner may be target of federal probe
Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)
November 27, 2002
A former Hennepin County commissioner may be the second local official linked to a federal investigation of free work provided by a Minneapolis plumbers union.
KSTP-TV and WCCO-TV reported Tuesday that the U.S. attorney’s office was now investigating Mark Andrew, a Hennepin County commissioner from 1982 to 1999 and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chairman from 1995 to 1997.
The stations didn’t cite the sources for their reports.
Andrew’s attorney, Mike Colich, confirmed in today’s edition of the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune that the FBI had questioned Andrew about plumbing work done in May 1998 at his home.
Andrew couldn’t be reached by the Pioneer Press on Tuesday.
The reports about Andrew came a day after Thomas Martin acknowledged in U.S. District Court that he had illegally used union funds to provide free plumbing work to Joe Biernat, a Minneapolis City Council member. Biernat resigned last week after a jury convicted him of five charges in connection with the plumbing job; he was acquitted on the two most serious charges.
Martin, former business manager of Plumbers Union Local 15, also said in court that he had illegally spent $3,175 in union funds to give free plumbing work to another elected official, who wasn’t named during the proceeding.
Former Hennepin County chairman won’t face charges after probe
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
May 17, 2003
Former Hennepin County Board Chairman Mark Andrew won’t face charges after a federal investigation into plumbing work done at his former home, according to his attorney.
“We’ve been told that no evidence will be presented to the grand jury.
What it means to me is that this case is finally over in regards to Mark,” lawyer Mike Colich said.
Colich said Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Larsen informed him Wednesday that the investigation had ended.
U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger’s office would not confirm or deny any investigations per its usual policy.
Questions about plumbing work at Andrew’s former home in south Minneapolis arose in late November.
Thomas Martin, former business manager for Minneapolis Plumbers Local 15, pleaded guilty to taking union funds to pay for work at property owned by former Minneapolis City Council Member Joe Biernat and said he had also provided free work for another, unnamed elected official.
Last month, Biernat was sentenced to 21 months in prison after he was found guilty of five federal charges in connection with the plumbers probe. Martin was sentenced to two years.
Andrew, 52, is a former DFL Party state chairman and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate. He served for 16 years on the Hennepin County Board, leaving in the middle of his term early in 1999 to join a public-relations firm.
The Andrew Vault 