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Kansas Can't Trust Greg Orman the Businessman or the Politician(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 24 -- Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., the Republican nominee seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate, issued the following campaign news release: Kansas can't trust Greg Orman. Orman has tried to deceive Kansas voters throughout this campaign, claiming he is an independent, when in reality he is a liberal Democrat who supports amnesty, Obamacare and abortion. However, Orman's attempt to use his business record as the sole qualification for U.S. Senate is equally deceptive. Orman refuses to be honest with Kansas about his business record, and one of the most striking examples of Orman's dishonesty is his work with DTI, a telecommunications firm. While working for Kansas City Power and Light, Orman managed a takeover of DTI and within a year of securing majority ownership the company was in $300 million in debt, was filing for bankruptcy, and, despite Orman's promises, had laid off 45% of its workforce. "If Kansans want know if they can trust Greg Orman they should look to the hard working people formerly employed by DTI," Bliss continued. "Less than a year after Orman took over their company and assured them he had no plans lay them off, Orman had fired over 45% of their workforce. Greg Orman is a liberal Democrat with a history of debt, layoffs, and broken promises. Kansas deserves better, and voters just can't trust Greg Orman." The Roberts for Senate campaign today calls on Greg Orman to release a full accounting of his business record. Orman needs to explain why he has so many million dollar lawsuits against him. Orman needs to release his Grand Jury testimony in the case of his close personal and business friend Rajat Gupta, the imprisoned Wall Street Criminal, and he needs to explain why he broke his word and laid off 45% of the DTI workforce. Background In February 2000, Orman was selected to serve as a director of DTI Holdings, Inc. - a Missouri-based telecom firm in which KLT had a 47% ownership stake. "Gregory J. Orman has been one of our directors since February 2000. Mr. Orman currently serves as Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of KLT which position he has held since January 2000. Mr. Orman started with KLT in November 1996 as President of KLT Energy Services, Inc. which position he still retains." (SEC, DTI Holdings, Inc. - 10-K Report, Filed in 2000; Journal-World, January 21, 2000) Despite DTI's financial problems and Orman's recognition of the risk, Orman aggressively pursued a takeover that resulted in KLT paying $33.6 million to get an 83% ownership stake in DTI. "There's still, obviously, a lot of risk," Orman said. "But I feel we'll be putting it on firm footing so we have a chance to execute the strategy." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 28, 2000 & St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 28, 2001) In 2001, a deal was reached on KLT's $33.6 million offer. Orman responded by stating that he was "excited about the possibilities." He also said there were no plans to cut DTI's workforce.. "' We want to really execute a business plan that is compelling and energizing for the organization.' Orman said KLT has no plans to cut Digital's work force of 60 employees. . . . Next week, KLT is to buy most of the shares held by DTI's founder and current chief executive, Richard Weinstein. The purchase will give KLT 83.2% of DTI's common and preferred stock." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 1, 2001) Less than one year after the Orman-brokered deal was approved, DTI filed for bankruptcy due, in large part, to $300 million in debt. In response, KCPL/GPE disclosed plans to write off $161 million of its investment in DTI, and Orman - who stated there were no plans for DTI layoffs less than a year earlier - reported that DTI had laid-off 45% of its workforce. "'By seeking Chapter 11 protection, Digital Teleport said it expects to eliminate $300 million in debt and "significantly reduce other future commitments.' ... Before bankruptcy, Digital Teleport had about 18,000 miles of fiberoptic network in place and hoped to build 20,000 miles in 37 states. Great Plains spokesman Greg Orman said the company plans to reject some of its data transmission contracts through the bankruptcy process and scale back to 5,000 miles... Orman said Digital Teleport had earlier let go of 30% of its work force and, in anticipation of the Chapter 11 filings, let go of an additional 15% Friday."(Kansas City Star, January 1, 2002) TNS 18EstebanLiz-141025-30FurigayJane-4912679 30FurigayJane (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |