The sheriff’s spokesperson appeared as media contact for the company that got the no-bid contract

The Sheriff’s Office contract with Bid4Assets, the online auction company that runs its property sales, was announced in March 2021. It “circumvented usual bidding procedures and was signed without the involvement of the law department,” the Inquirer reported.

Three months later, Bid4Assets news releases began carrying a new media contact: “Teresa M. Lundy, TML Communications” — Bilal’s former campaign manager, whose firm serves as the Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. Between June 10, 2021 and June 7, 2022, her name and firm appeared on at least 15 Bid4Assets releases announcing auctions for 12 county governments in four states: Berks, Beaver, Franklin, Carbon and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania; Colusa, Stanislaus, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties in California; Whatcom and Chelan Counties in Washington; and Wadena County, Minnesota. The earliest release found carrying her name is dated June 10, 2021, and the last June 7, 2022; releases located on either side of that window carry Bid4Assets’ own marketing staff as media contact.

Two of the Pennsylvania releases listing her as contact name Philadelphia among the counties for which Bid4Assets conducts sales.

Asked about the arrangement, Lundy said: “TML Communications provides communications services to a large client base, which includes corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Neither I, nor my firm, played any role in any contract at the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.” Bid4Assets chief executive Jesse Loomis said: “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to comment on that.”