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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is retaining a social media startup company with Republican Party ties that benefited from earlier no-bid contracts.
The school has picked Wholecrowd to continue providing digital advocacy services after a competitive bidding process.
The company was founded by former Republican Party of Iowa executive director Jim Anderson. It helps companies identify and engage supporters on social media sites.
Wholecrowd started working for the university in 2013 as a subcontractor, under an unusual arrangement in which former Iowa GOP chairman Matt Strawn was awarded several no-bid contracts for advocacy work. A Republican pollster was also hired.
After the AP reported on the arrangement last year, the university let Strawn's contract expire and launched a competitive bidding process. Wholecrowd will manage the school's online Hawkeye Caucus advocacy efforts.
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