POLITICS AND PROCUREMENT: Last December, the Los Angeles schools chief awarded a consulting contract to Mary Hodge, a city politics veteran and wife of Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Los Angeles Democrat, without putting it to a bid. But when the six-figure contract was up for final approval before the Los Angeles Unified School District Board last week, it hit a speedbump. The ratification did not come up for a vote after originally being on the agenda for the board’s April 9 meeting. Multiple members had raised questions about the contract, according to people familiar with those discussions who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. Shannon Haber, a spokesperson for the district, said the vote was pulled for a “technical correction” after the agenda item incorrectly listed the cost of the contract. It will be brought up again for ratification next month, she said. “The contract being moved to May had nothing to do with who her husband is and what he does,” Haber said. Still, there are touchy optics around the spouse of an elected official scoring a broadly-defined contract that did not go through a competitive bidding process. The agreement quickly attracted notice from close watchers of Los Angeles’ political scene. "Even though I vote for my congressman, I did not vote for his wife to have a sole-source contract,” said David Tokofsky, a former school board member, during the public meeting. “When that breaks in the Washington, D.C. news circuit, it's going to be a big story." Hodge, a longtime political operative, was a high-ranking official in former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s administration. She did not respond to requests for comment. Under the year-long agreement, which began on Dec. 1, 2023, Hodge would work with the Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho’s office “on strategic planning, communications, external relations, ballot initiative planning, marketing, and foundation building.” Hodge was to be paid $10,000 per month, or $120,000 total. The meeting agenda said the contract cost $200,000, but Haber said that was incorrect, requiring the item to be pulled for correction. The district’s policies generally advise against sole or single-source contracts because it limits full competition, although it does allow such agreements in certain circumstances. For Hodge’s single-source contract, Haber said the district followed those procedures and “secured the necessary approval” prior to bringing the agreement to the board. The district knew there may be questions about the contract given who she was married to but felt her qualifications stood on their own. “There are times where there are individuals who are uniquely qualified. She has been working in LA on complex initiatives for years … She has a really remarkable career,” Haber said. But skeptics are waiting for a more fulsome explanation of what Hodge singularly brings to the table. “I don't know the added value to government relations … or to the board’s and superintendent’s goals because it wasn't presented to the public,” Tokofsky told Playbook. “I’m always hopeful that something good is happening, but this feels like mush.” IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to mmason@politico.com. CALLING ALL SF POLITICOS! We’re hosting team trivia night May 1 at Manny’s in San Francisco’s Mission district. Join Playbook co-authors Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner for an evening of tough questions and adult beverages. Attendees are welcome to come with a team — or just bring yourself and meet fun people. Winners will receive a Manny’s gift card and POLITICO swag bag. The games run 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Space is limited, so reserve your ticket here while they last! | 
