The CEO of a company with significant business interests in Washington, D.C., arranged and paid for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s last-minute trip to the Masters golf tournament, but no details were available until Wednesday’s Washington City Paper report. There were hardly any.
On Friday, April 12, Bowser’s public calendar listed him going to Augusta, Georgia, as part of a sports and economic development visit. She had no statement about details such as who she would be going with or how she would get there.
Former News4 City Paper reporter Tom Sherwood first reported that the mayor was a guest of Jody MacLean, CEO of retail and real estate development company Edens. MacLean is also co-chair of the Gallery Place/Chinatown Task Force, which is considering redevelopment around Capital One Arena.
MacLean flew Bowser in his private jet.
“I don’t just go in and decide one day I’m going to go to the Masters,” Sherwood told News4. “Millions of people want those tickets…big companies are holding big events there. I think the public has a right to know how this visit came about.”
A spokesperson for the mayor told News4 that city funds will pay for the trip, but it’s unclear who the mayor met with or how much the city will have to pay for tickets to the Masters, which cost thousands of dollars. was not disclosed.
One of Bowser’s senior advisers, Beverly Perry, also participated in the trip, Sherwood reported.
“I also went to the chief of staff in the mayor’s office, which is in charge of negotiations to bring an NFL team back to RFK, so I would like to know all the details,” he told News4.
An EDENS spokesperson told City Paper that Mr MacLean had agreed to reimburse the costs and invited the mayor.
“Some of the people who go to the Masters are wealthy people who have money to invest in Washington, D.C.,” Sherwood said. “That’s the good part. The mayor has the right to go there and do that. But I don’t think she has the right to hide all the details about her costs and who was involved. ”
The mayor’s visit to Augusta lasted just one day. She returned that Saturday night.
The City also reported that Bowser ran into former chief of staff John Falcicchio at the Masters. Falticchio resigned last year amid an investigation into sexual misconduct. The newspaper, citing people familiar with the matter, said the mayor and Mr. Falticchio only spoke briefly.
