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Rick Perry and GovWhiz: What We Know So Far

GovWhiz's website says it's still in 'deep stealth mode.'
Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon/KUT News
GovWhiz's website says it's still in 'deep stealth mode.'

From Texas Standard: As a country, we've been looking towards November elections and which candidates will be moving into office, but we haven't been paying much attention to the other end of the story: What do you do when you get out of office?

Former Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race in September, since then he's been in need of a new job. Maybe he'll write a book, like so many other former political figures have done, or become a political pundit?

There are no pages on the presses yet. Instead the former governor has signed on with a company called  GovWhiz. The mysterious company has an office here in Austin, and it's been raising some eyebrows. The  Austin American-Statesman's  David McSwane has been  following the story.

GovWhiz "seemingly overnight" has connections to the former governor and two of his top aides, McSwane says.

"The former governor is a big player," he says. "For a relatively unknown company to be able to set up a meeting through the governor with the Commission is definitely interesting."

McSwane says they've asked the company what their business is, but the CEO has dodged those questions, repeatedly saying the company is in "deep stealth mode."

"Best we can gather based on their communications with other agencies, this company is really interested in developing web applications for government agencies," McSwane says.

He says Texas 211, a program that connects veterans with services, is one of the products they may be working on. Their spokesperson confirmed that the company has been working with the Texas Lottery Commission, but there's certainly more to learn.

Copyright 2020 KUT 90.5. To see more, visit KUT 90.5.

Alain Stephens heads up investigative reports for Texas Standard. A graduate of the University of North Texas and a veteran of two of the U.S. armed forces, Alain served both in the Coast Guard and the Air Force. His work has won accolades for exposing how the state pays those with disabilities below minimum wage, as well as the fast-tracking of juveniles to adult prisons. Contact Alain at astephens@kut.org, or (512) 232-6173.