Will Gregory, Benicia, CA, Oct. 30, 2007
"Money doesn’t buy elections in this town,” Councilmember Bill Whitney once openly opined. [Ben Herald; 2/14/06, “PAC funding a surprise to its beneficiaries”].
To quote Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” [Quote from New York Public Interest Research Group website.]
"Money doesn’t buy elections in this town,” Councilmember Bill Whitney once openly opined. [Ben Herald; 2/14/06, “PAC funding a surprise to its beneficiaries”].
To quote Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” [Quote from New York Public Interest Research Group website.]
Campaign notes: Facts and Figures.
In the final week of Benicia’s 2007 election campaign, I found it worthwhile to review the facts and figures reported in Campaign Disclosure Statements (Form #460)--forms of “sunshine” required to be filed by all candidates at the city clerk’s office, the final pre-election report required by Oct. 25. These PUBLIC RECORDS show candidates’ campaign expenditures and contributions--loans and donations categorized as monetary, non-monetary, itemized-over $100, and un-itemized less than $100.
Citizens have a RIGHT TO KNOW where a campaign’s money comes from, e.g., whether from local residents and businesses, or out-of-town or out-of-state sources, and, whether from corporations, trade unions, developers or private wealthy donors. These are important distinctions; outside money can have a disproportionately powerful, distorting impact on a small town’s electoral process. It raises questions of “valuation”: the value of one vote and also “public values”, apropos ethics and campaign finance reform.
Results of my research into reporting by all candidates, through 3 filing periods, follow.
In the Mayor’s race, Councilmember Bill Whitney reported: 15 itemized in-town contributors giving $100 or more, totaling $4,100; 10 out-of-town contributors who gave a total of $6,070; and un-itemized donations (leading all other candidates’) at $7,085. Councilmember Elizabeth Patterson reported: 35 in-town itemized contributors, totaling $5,073; 3 out-of-town contributors, (the fewest of all candidates), $1,300; and un-itemized donations totaling $5,610. Non-monetary contributions totaled $7,350, from donated art pieces for auction and two musical concerts.
In the three-way Council race, Planning Commissioner Mike Ioakimedes reported: 24 in-town contributors, totaling $4,073; 13 out-of-town contributors, totaling $5,280; and un-itemized donations totaling $6,177. Dr.Tom Campbell reported: 32 in-town contributions, including a $5,300 loan to himself made in the second filing period, totaling $10,690; 5 out-of-town contributors, totaling $2,570 (the lowest amount collected from out-of-town sources for all council candidates); un-itemized donations totaling $4,719; and non-monetary donations totaling $844. Planning Commissioner Scott Strawbridge reported: 20 in-town contributors, totaling $2,795.00, which included a $500 loan to himself, in the second filing period; 76 out-of-town contributors, totaling $61,045; and un-itemized donations totaling $1,410.
What do these figures tell us? Campaign disclosure documents are a treasure-trove of info. First, Commissioner Strawbridge set two new records: most money ever raised in Benicia elections, and, most cash received from out-of-town sources than any other candidate or incumbent in recent Benicia election history.
Citizens have a RIGHT TO KNOW where a campaign’s money comes from, e.g., whether from local residents and businesses, or out-of-town or out-of-state sources, and, whether from corporations, trade unions, developers or private wealthy donors. These are important distinctions; outside money can have a disproportionately powerful, distorting impact on a small town’s electoral process. It raises questions of “valuation”: the value of one vote and also “public values”, apropos ethics and campaign finance reform.
Results of my research into reporting by all candidates, through 3 filing periods, follow.
In the Mayor’s race, Councilmember Bill Whitney reported: 15 itemized in-town contributors giving $100 or more, totaling $4,100; 10 out-of-town contributors who gave a total of $6,070; and un-itemized donations (leading all other candidates’) at $7,085. Councilmember Elizabeth Patterson reported: 35 in-town itemized contributors, totaling $5,073; 3 out-of-town contributors, (the fewest of all candidates), $1,300; and un-itemized donations totaling $5,610. Non-monetary contributions totaled $7,350, from donated art pieces for auction and two musical concerts.
In the three-way Council race, Planning Commissioner Mike Ioakimedes reported: 24 in-town contributors, totaling $4,073; 13 out-of-town contributors, totaling $5,280; and un-itemized donations totaling $6,177. Dr.Tom Campbell reported: 32 in-town contributions, including a $5,300 loan to himself made in the second filing period, totaling $10,690; 5 out-of-town contributors, totaling $2,570 (the lowest amount collected from out-of-town sources for all council candidates); un-itemized donations totaling $4,719; and non-monetary donations totaling $844. Planning Commissioner Scott Strawbridge reported: 20 in-town contributors, totaling $2,795.00, which included a $500 loan to himself, in the second filing period; 76 out-of-town contributors, totaling $61,045; and un-itemized donations totaling $1,410.
What do these figures tell us? Campaign disclosure documents are a treasure-trove of info. First, Commissioner Strawbridge set two new records: most money ever raised in Benicia elections, and, most cash received from out-of-town sources than any other candidate or incumbent in recent Benicia election history.
The total for all the candidates’ contributions in this election so far comes to $136,000, of which $60,000 represents in-town sources, and a whopping $76,000 represents out-of-town sources. Largest contributors so far reported are trade groups--primarily plumbers, pipe-fitters, sheet-metal contractors and carpenters.
But there are as yet unanswered questions. Where are our past-contributing corporate players this time? Valero, Seeno? Where is Firefighters Local #1186? Benicia Police Officers Association? These latter have endorsed candidates but haven’t spent any money? Curious.
Commissioner Strawbridge’s largest contributors, representing 26 trade groups, sent cash ranging from $250 to $5,000, which helped him raise $44,000—in “special interest” money coming from all over California and from states as far flung as Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut.
Councilmember Whitney’s largest contributors were also from out-of-town sources, totaling $3,850. Mr. Ioakimedes largest donor was also an out-of-towner, giving $1,880. Dr. Campbell received $1,000 from the California Dental PAC from Sacramento. Ms. Patterson kept her promise to keep corporate money out of her campaign: her largest contributor was the Orderly Growth Committee from Fairfield, for $1,000.
In this filing period, Commissioner Strawbridge has accepted a $500 contribution from the third most powerful political action committee in the state: CRE-PAC/BOR PAC. He joins three other Benicia public officials--Commissioner Ioakimedes and Councilmembers Whitney and Schwartzman--who’ve each accepted cash from the Calif. Real Estate Political Action Committee and the Board of Realtors out of Los Angeles.
But there are as yet unanswered questions. Where are our past-contributing corporate players this time? Valero, Seeno? Where is Firefighters Local #1186? Benicia Police Officers Association? These latter have endorsed candidates but haven’t spent any money? Curious.
Commissioner Strawbridge’s largest contributors, representing 26 trade groups, sent cash ranging from $250 to $5,000, which helped him raise $44,000—in “special interest” money coming from all over California and from states as far flung as Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut.
Councilmember Whitney’s largest contributors were also from out-of-town sources, totaling $3,850. Mr. Ioakimedes largest donor was also an out-of-towner, giving $1,880. Dr. Campbell received $1,000 from the California Dental PAC from Sacramento. Ms. Patterson kept her promise to keep corporate money out of her campaign: her largest contributor was the Orderly Growth Committee from Fairfield, for $1,000.
In this filing period, Commissioner Strawbridge has accepted a $500 contribution from the third most powerful political action committee in the state: CRE-PAC/BOR PAC. He joins three other Benicia public officials--Commissioner Ioakimedes and Councilmembers Whitney and Schwartzman--who’ve each accepted cash from the Calif. Real Estate Political Action Committee and the Board of Realtors out of Los Angeles.
Are corporations passing through money to the trade groups to avoid disclosure? Late Independent Expenditures reports are due out this week--Form #496--at the city clerk’s office or at the city’s website. Independent expenditures, made in "support or against” local candidates, must be submitted within 24 hours of the date the communication is distributed.
In our last election, Nov. 8, 2005, the city clerk received Form #496 reports from the Coalition for Responsible Government (CRG) on Nov. 3,4,6, and 7. These reports revealed last-minute contributions to the CRG from Valero for $35,000 (10/27) and Seeno for $15,000 (11/1) and last-minute “support" of Mr. Hughes and Mr. Schwartzman, and "against” Mr. Smith, totaling $44,000.
As you see, reviewing campaign finance records can help a voter grasp the magnitude of outside money’s potential to affect local elections. In 2005, outside corporate interests took enormous advantage, funding last-minute hit pieces against incumbent councilmembers, Dan Smith and Dr. Campbell.
The influence of money mocks what we’d like to hold as our most sacred trust. In this election, instead of “one person, one vote”, it is now more like “one dollar, one vote”. A weak campaign finance reform ordinance enacted by council this year did little to correct the problem.
Dr. Campbell’s recent ad in the Benicia Herald, 10/28, said it best: “You have a choice on November 6th. You decide what kind of city government you want.” That means, what kind of democracy.
1 comment:
Hi Shadow, thanks for the invite. Who are you? - Roger Straw
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