Atlanta airport official on leave after conflict of interest concerns

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has placed a high-ranking official at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on leave for possible conflict of interest – news that was immediately turned into political ammunition in the campaign to pick his successor.

The action was taken against Cortez Carter, deputy general manager at the airport, whose wife owns a company that does business in Washington with Hojeij Branded Foods (HBF), which has contracts to provide concessions.

“The City is also in the process of reviewing all current and pending contracts with the vendor,” a spokeswoman for Reed said Friday. “We take this matter very seriously. If any violations of protocols, ordinances or policies are found to have taken place, we will address the situation immediately and without hesitation.”

The connection between Hojeij and Carter is through his wife, Charisse Works, who is the owner of AirWorks Concessions. That company was chosen in 2015 as a Hojeij partner with a 10 percent stake in a restaurant at Reagan National International Airport, according to Hojeij.

Read more: https://www.myajc.com/business/atlanta-airport-official-leave-after-conflict-interest-concerns/WzlhPBF2dLkYTlJQqpdDrM/politicallygeorgia.html