Eric, The Sierra Club takes campaign finance issues very seriously. We have a question on our questionnaire related to the issue. I reviewed campaign finance of both mayoral candidates as stated in the previous email, and all city council candidates. The Sierra Club has not filed a complaint with Hennepin County, but the recent decision by the McLauphlin campaign to inaccurately portray our endorsement on the web site seemed like it was important to give everyone a more detailed answer to one of our concerns. Of coarse others may file a campaign finance complaint based on this information. Ken Bradley
Eric Mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: After reading the entire post I have to ask, is the Sierra Club charging McLaughlin with a crime or campaign violation? It certainly seems you went beyond the usual screening with questions focused on the mission of your organization. Maybe because both of these guys have pretty good credentials and records you took it another step. Out of fairness, did you look over the Mayors' campaign to check to see, which events are within Mayoral duties and which are clear campaign events? Or, if he is using any contacts he may have made as Mayor and now utilizing them on his re-election campaign? Of course not that's impossible to check and there is nothing wrong with it. Nothing. According to your accusation, resources intended for the entity of county commissioner may have helped the Mayoral effort. Big deal. There isn't an incumbent officeholder out there who could escape that charge. Not one with staff and resources that is, unless you're a one pony show. Comparing what one politician pays for a service to what another pays is a horrible way to draw this kind of conclusion. There is no real market rate for the skills us consultants bring to the table and many times some of the contracts are given to friends that they know and therefore pay them what they feel like, ask for or can afford. If I am running for another office in the next year or two, my database of contacts will be most important(supporters, endorsments, money,etc). If I'm planning to be re-elected, my previous contacts will be most important. Your main concern should be checking to be sure it's not taxpayer dollars. In this case, this is money that people willingly gave PM for election purposes. Until elected officials step down from the current office duties to run for the next office, there will always be crossover. They will always utilize the same lists, supporters and funders. It's not illegal and common practice. I don't have a horse in this race and would take either one over here in St Paul in a heartbeat. This post just seem to go beyond explain an endorsment and jumped to an accusation or charges of shadiness. Eric Mitchell St Paul- Mpls 5th Ward resident last election --- ken bradley wrote: > > Dear Minneapolis Issues Folks, > > The Sierra Club North Star Chapter also had concerns > about about campaign finance issues. Durring my > review of campaign expenditure reports. I found what > appears to be some irregularities related to Friend > of Peter McLaughlin (County Commissioner) campaign > report and the possible transfer of funds to > McLaughlin for Mayor Committee. This was one of many > issues that had an impact on our endorsement. But > please allow me to explain. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls --------------------------------- Discover Yahoo! Find restaurants, movies, travel & more fun for the weekend. Check it out! REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
