...In the county supervisor races for the 4th and 5th district, the four candidates have raised a total of $31,930 since the start of 2014, according to the most recently filed campaign finance forms....
Yep. BIG Money, that.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
THE SUPS 460s
◼ Campaign finance disclosure forms filed for Humboldt County supervisor races; experts say cost of local elections on the rise - Lorna Rodriguez/The Times-Standard
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Yep. BIG Money, that.
Yep. BIG Money, that.
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"Justin Zabel of Mercer-Fraser Company was the largest nonmonetary contributor [for the Bass campaign] with a $900 donation for a load of concrete."
ReplyDeleteO.K., that's got me curious: What does a campaign for Humboldt County Supervisor need with $900 worth of concrete?
Campaign fundraisers auction off donated items and services.
ReplyDeleteIf you attended a fundraiser, you might bid on a load of concrete if you are putting in a patio, or a sidewalk or driveway... you might bid on a load of gravel, or a cord of firewood...they're useful things that you might be going to spend money on anyway.
Oh, O.K., that makes sense. Mystery solved. I guess to folks who are more familiar with campaign fundraising, the answer was pretty obvious. I plead ignorance, and not for the first time. But I bet I'm not the only one who read that line in the article and was like "huh-what?"
ReplyDeleteMost campaign fundraisers include both live and silent auctions.
ReplyDeleteIf you go, you can write your name on a bid sheet for the silent auction items, or raise your hand or paddle during the live auction.
Campaign volunteers go to a lot of trouble to secure donations, and prepare all the items (and the food) for the fundraising events.
Campaign donations are deeply appreciated by all candidates - it is what makes it possible for them to communicate with the voters, let them know about themselves, about their candidacy, and ask for your vote. If you support a particular candidate, be sure to thank the donors who help make their race for office possible.
So why is John Chiv dissing other folks that are being paid on campaigns when he admitted on his blog that he has been paid from the Firpo campaign as well.
ReplyDelete"
I know there may be comments but not on my blog, so disclosure about others who got paid. I was paid $150 by the Firpo campaign so did Mitch Trachtenberg, he got $403 for this last filing period. I have volunteered a lot of time since 2010 on campaigns. I have a right to contract for services just as Mitch or Allison Edrington who is supporting Arnie. Unlike Joel, I have not and will not be making $10, 000."
I'm wondering who benefits from the concrete use after the campaign. That would be awfully convenient for someone or a business to get something permanent out of the deal. Enquiring mind wants to know.
ReplyDeleteAre you nuts, Jon? Do you really have that little understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteWho benefits from the CONCRETE USE? You mean, like, the person who BUYS it and USES it? Maybe they use it to pour a patio? Or a sidewalk. Yes, they get something permanent out of 'the deal.'
Or, if they bid on and BUY Firewood, it all goes up in smoke, nothing permanent, but they do 'get something' for their money. Their DONATION.
Or if they bid on and win a couple bottles of wine, gee, what do they get out of the deal? I wonder. Let me think.
Sheesh.
Maybe they should auction off some shrink sessions.
You had me at "nuts"
ReplyDeleteSo, Rose, these are campaign donations. I'm not sure of the exact rules, but the ethics seem questionable.
ReplyDeleteHere is a thought example. Candidate Fred gets $250K in donations from people who are excited about his stance on ____.
Candidate Fred is not really planning on running, but really wants a new house. He codes the building a house as a necessary campaign expense because he plans to have a campaign even there. Is that kosher? I don't think so, but I can't cite why not.
That's why I'm curious. Here is Ryan making a campaign blunder on his 460 in 2010.* That's why I'm curious. Still don't have a copy of the 460's online yet. But we will.
It's not the free market all the time as you'd like it to be. Sometimes there are those darn rules and regulations that have to be followed or changed.
* http://humboldtherald.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/sundbergs-new-shoes/
Jon, the reason I don't cut you any slack is you put yourself up as someone who is informed enough to pass judgement. And you are completely clueless.
ReplyDeleteI had to check back here to find out the evidence that you had to prove my "shocking ignorance". Shocking that I didn't find any except to find out that I'm clueless. QED.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find answers on your blog Rose. Just got the 460's. It still seems very odd. Could be completely innocent. I contend it couldn't be too. For example Ryan's suit in 2010 (nice dodge btw). I'm very sure she didn't, but if SVB used this load of concrete as a foundation for her patio extension used for a fundraiser, I'm pretty sure this would be against FPPC rules. Again, bookending, I'm sure Supervisor Bass did not do this, I just am stating this is a very odd line item on a 460. One I'd like to know more about, simply because it is curious and thus interesting.
Jon, do you know any sayings about paint cans?
ReplyDeleteI don't Rose and Google doesn't help.
ReplyDeletePlease elaborate.
Also, you still haven't mentioned Ryan's purchase of clothing. I think that is exactly analogous to the concrete, potentially. The reason Ryan had to change his 460, I'm assuming, is the clothing purchase was more of a personal one (ie he would continue to use it after the campaign) rather than a political expense (ie he used the clothing to look nice for an event).
Do agree that there may be similar ethical if not legal ramifications to the concrete purchase? That concrete is going to last an awful long time.
But I digress, let's talk about paint cans cryptically.
Again, to be clear. I'm not accusing SVB of anything, I'm more interested in the ethics of political spending. I'd like to find out more about the concrete because of the different nature of concrete vs campaigns. Permanent vs ephemeral. I think there is a strong potential for an in kind donation by Mercer Fraser that shouldn't be categorized as such.
While we are at it, what about the load of logs? If burned I'd think the donation is legit, if kept or later sold or donated to someone else for a net profit, I think there could be a problem. Again, "could".
BTW, here, finally is SVB's 3/24 460.
* http://www.scribd.com/doc/215166936/Humboldt-County-6-3-14-Primary-4th-District-Supervisorial-Race-FPPC-460-Report-Dates-1-1-14-to-3-17-14
(SRS and CK's coming soon, special thanks to Liberal Mom and Dad for taking the time to copy them from Elections)