Returning readers will know immediately I've borrowed a riff from our friendly fake consultant - but it's not the first time.
Like any citizen, I have access to campaign finance reports and looking over the Manigault report was interesting. Back to that shortly.
I hadn't realized that there are no limits to the contributions an individual can make to the campaign of someone running for Mayor of South Bend. An individual can only contribute $2300 to a United States Presidential Candidate (per cycle), but the influence of money in our little neck of the woods can be much more profound.
The Vote Manigault For Mayor committee reports year to date contributions of $152,913 for the period ending Oct. 12, 2007. As required by law, the committee listed the contributors.
Let's start with John Phair - a principal of Holladay Properties. Mr Phair has contributed $8500 personally and Holladay has contributed $2000. An additional $1000 from Daniel Phair of Indianapolis was identified as being associated with Holladay. That's a total of $11,500, which is arguably a pretty significant proportion of the total raised.
South Bend Tribune readers may recall a scathing Michiana Point of View piece authored by Mr. Phair dressing down Mayor Luecke and his administration. Recently, a city official grumbled to me that Mr. Phair and Holladay were probably the single greatest beneficiaries of city government largess in the entire span of the Luecke administration. Not good enough, I guess.
An even more significant benefactor "group" - Abro Facilities/Cayuga Heights ponied up an aggregate of $15,000 for a mayoral contest.
There were several individual contributions of $1,000 - $ 3,000 as well, but the two groups listed above contributed nearly 18% of Juan Manigault's total. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
And I couldn't help noting that in a nod to the old WIB fiscal practices (accounting is just a rumor), although the committee was instructed to list the purpose of expenditures, it failed to list the purpose of any expenditure. In a case of "you really ought to read the instructions" there was this curious entry: On 9/1/2007 $253.00 was paid to a judge - Robert Miller.
?
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Don Wheeler
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
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1 comments:
(I received this from Judge Miller, regarding the final comment. I assured him that the comment was intended as a humorous aside. DW)
As a former Judge of St. Joseph Superior Court, the courtesy title of Judge is in general usage. Accordingly I am Judge Robert Miller Sr.. My son, Judge Robert Miller Jr. is in his 31st year as a Judge (10 years Superior Court-20 plus years United States District Court), and of course he knew nothing of this matter
The check you referenced was indeed paid to me. It was reimbursement for four Notre Dame football tickets at the face value of $62 each plus five dollars, the pro rata share of the Notre Dame application fee. Upon delivering the tickets to Juan prior to the game, Juan appeared to have some of his loyal campaign workers with him who I assume went to the game.
Robert L. Miller Sr.
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