Winn responds to Wilkerson controversy

Arthur Winn provided the Boston Globe with a statement explaining the reason for his $10,000 payment to former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who is facing unrelated bribery charges. Here is Winn's complete statement:

Introduction

As I watch my reputation come under fire by a series of bogus stories in the media over the last few weeks, I am compelled to defend myself. Over the past 30 years, as a well-respected commercial and hotel owner, and the single most award-winning developer of affordable housing in New England, there has never been even a credible whisper of any unethical, let alone illegal, behavior on my part or the part of my Company; that is, until this media frenzy began.

The Gift

I will not allow myself to be defined by the hyperbole surrounding this $10,000 gift to Ms. Wilkerson. I've been asked repeatedly for the names of others who also chose to contribute. I have not and will not subject other contributors to the abusive reporting I have been subjected to, especially when gifts were approved by the very agency in Massachusetts charged with interpreting ethics laws.

There have been many questions regarding my motive for making this gift which cannot be adequately answered by a single sound bite. It comes down to the fact that she was a friend in need, indebted to the IRS. As someone who always holds himself to the highest ethical standard in everything I do, I recognized immediately the unusual and unique nature of the circumstance, and went to great lengths to ensure that my actions complied with the law. DW never asked for, nor did I ever provide, any unethical or illegal funds.

The gift was made in accordance with 2 State Ethics Commission opinions, my own counsel's sign-off, and was delivered with full transparency to a well-respected individual in Boston. Like many of us in the business and political community in Boston, I was a personal fan and a supporter of her career through its many successes as well as her public difficulties. My own attempt to assist her was far from unique.

AMW DW's Relationship

My friendship with DW precedes her political career, dating back to her time as a young attorney at R,C&D. Long before DW became a state senator, I had been a leading developer/manager of affordable housing in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. I always sought to improve the quality of affordable housing for my residents so when DW came into Office and established herself as a housing advocate, it was clear we cared about the same things. I became an enthusiastic supporter of her political career. I believe that DW respected me as the most prolific developer of affordable housing and the largest employer in Massachusetts of minority and women subcontractors (evidenced by the six consecutive years my company received the M/WBE (Minority and Women Business) Achievement Award from the State).

Of the 4,000 affordable housing units we manage in DW's district, the vast majority are managed on behalf of non-profits, which I am proud to have supported through thick and thin. It is because of this reputation for delivering quality homes and jobs in the inner-city, that I have maintained a close relationship of respect with many elected officials, of which the Senator was one.

Columbus Center

Since the project was in its earliest stages more than a decade ago, Diane Wilkerson and many other elected officials championed the project's many public benefits. The notion that my gift had, or was intended to have, any bearing on DW's advocacy of Columbus Center is to ignore the last decade of continual support she and many other elected officials, business leaders and community members maintained for this tremendous generator of jobs, taxes and community benefits.

The urgency of proceeding with Columbus Center remains the same today as it was when the project was conceived years ago. Although MacFarlane has been making all major decisions with respect to Columbus Center for the last two years - since reaching the point where its investment exceeded our own - WinnDevelopment continues to stand behind the project and looks forward to its construction. We remain eager to be part of this important project.

Conclusion

I have devoted my company toward being an economic engine in Boston's inner-city communities when few, if any, of Boston's other prominent development companies would even venture into them.

After 30 years of producing award-winning commercial and hotel developments, and maintaining the best track record in New England for affordable housing - I will not sit by while my integrity and reputation are questioned. I remain Proud of my involvement in all aspects of Columbus Center as well as my affordable housing endeavors.