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"Money is the mother's milk of politics." -- Jesse Unruh, longtime California House Speaker.
Once upon a time, The St. Augustine Record reported every campaign contribution $100 or more, in tiny agate type.
For the past several election cycles, it has inexplicably failed to do so. This stinks.
The Record is no longer fulfilling the "watchdog" function our Founding Fathers intended.
The Record is a lapdog for developers and the rich and powerful.
See the Record's demure 543-word story, headlined, "Developers, others spending big money on County Commission race." Others? Reminds me of when NBC News' co-anchor David Brinkley was giving election results, listing the results for "Others," quipping, "His first name is Sam."
Both living breathing people and jural persons (corporations) can contribute. Limited Liability Companies rarely identify their actual beneficial owners. The County won't even ask for this information when I request it, serving as "the pest who never rests."
RICHARD WILLIAMS RAISED $121,590.00 Cash, $5,816.68 in in-kind contributions, spent $32,693.14 -- Republican Seat 4 BoCC Candidate
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/richard-williams-raised-12159000-cash_8.htmlJEREMIAH BLOCKER Raised $95,906.08 Cash, $3,561.18 in-kind Contributions -- Republican Seat 4 BoCC Candidate
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/jeremiah-blocker-raised-9590608-cash.htmlERIKA ALBA Raised $62,500 Cash, $6,170.50 in in-kind Contributions: Union-busting industry lobbyist/lawyer running for Republican BoCC candidate
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/62500-cash-617050-in-in-kind.html$6,381.79 Cash Constributed, $4,922.57 in Kind Contributions for Republican BoCC candidate Nicholas Mike Dudynskay
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/2860-in-f.html
Here's the Record's 543-word article:
Developers, others spending big money on County Commission race
By Stuart Korfhage
Posted Jul 7, 2018 at 11:54 PM
Updated at 6:32 AM
St. Augustine Record
With less than two months before the primary election, more than $250,000 has flowed into the race to fill the St. Johns County Commission District 4 seat being vacated by the retiring Jay Morris.
Among the qualified Republicans, nobody has raised more than Dick Williams so far with a reported campaign donation haul of about $120,000. But real estate attorney Jeremiah Blocker has also raised an impressive $96,000, while corporate attorney Erika Alba has $62,500.
For Williams, who served on the county Planning and Zoning Agency before running for elected office, the bulk of his contributions is coming from the building/development industry.
In June, he raised more than $28,000. About $20,000 came from donors aligned with construction or real estate (including heating and air conditioning companies).
For the campaign season, Williams has received more than $60,000 from those with obvious, direct ties to building and development interests.
Among donors to Williams’ campaign are many who came before the PZA during his time on that board. The main job of the all-volunteer board is to make recommendations to the County Commission on development applications.
Included in the list of donors are Gatlin Development and Gate Petroleum, which are developing the massive Durbin Park mixed-use project. Also donating were Roger O’Steen of the PARC Group and the PARC Group directly. That is the master developer of Nocatee.
Civil engineers that regularly bring projects before the PZA and the County Commission also donated, including William Schilling and the firm of England-Thims-Miller, Inc.
Williams also received donations from Morris, former commissioners Cyndi Stevenson and Mary Kohnke, and Sheriff David Shoar.
It’s not unusual for development companies to throw sizable contributions into the Commission races.
For instance, Commissioner Jeb Smith, who’s running unopposed for reelection in District 2, has received contributions from England-Thims-Miller, Inc.; David Hutson of the Hutson Companies; Nocatee Development Company and many others.
St. Johns County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and decisions about land use are perhaps the most important ones made by the Commission.
Given his ties to the legal community, it’s not surprising that Blocker has received the bulk of his contributions from various attorneys in North Florida and several from outside the area.
Blocker has also found plenty of interest in the development community. He also received a $1,000 donation from Gate as well as $1,000 from Sleiman Enterprises of Jacksonville. He’s totaled close to $30,000 in donations from those in the development/building sector.
He has also gained the financial support of former Jacksonville Jaguars punter Adam Podlesh, who is now a financial planner in the area.
Alba has also received significant contributions from various attorneys. She’s received several thousands dollars from development companies but has not seen the same support her challengers have seen.
The former California resident has been on the donation list of several political action committees — including one for the Florida Insurance Council as well as the HCA East Florida Division Good Government PAC. She has loaned her own campaign more than $11,000.
Another Republican candidate, Nicholas Michael Dudynskay, has more than $6,000 for his campaign, most of which is a loan to his own campaign.
There are no qualified Democrats for the District 4 race. The primary election is Aug. 28
Comments:
"Money is the mother's milk of politics." -- Jesse Unruh (California State Assembly Speaker, 1961-1969) The St. Augustine Record for years performed a great public service when it reported EVERY campaign contribution $100 or more, in tiny agate type. For several election cycles, it has failed to do so.
Why? This unexplained editorial decision stinks.
The Record is not fulfilling the "watchdog" function our Founding Fathers intended.
Is the Record a lapdog for secretive developers, which are clearcutting "God's country," clogging our roads, overcrowding schools, w/ very poor planning?
Read full data on the identity of every person, firm and interest group giving money to buy St. Johns County Commission Seat 4. See how the money is spent, including consultants and parties:
RICHARD WILLIAMS RAISED $121,590.00 Cash, $5,816.68 in in-kind contributions, spent $32,693.14
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/richard-williams-raised-12159000-cash_8.html
JEREMIAH BLOCKER Raised $95,906.08 Cash, $3,561.18 in-kind Contributions -- http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/jeremiah-blocker-raised-9590608-cash.html
ERIKA ALBA Raised $62,500 Cash, $6,170.50 in in-kind Contributions:
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/62500-cash-617050-in-in-kind.html
$6,381.79 Cash Contributed, $4,922.57 in Kind Contributions for Nicholas Mike Dudynskay
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/raised-for-republican-bocc-candidate.html
$2860 for John Carrol Gorman to Qualify as Spoiler, Closing August 28th Universal Primary
http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2018/07/2860-in-f.html
Tons of manipulative ads and "targeted" junk mail will follow. Quo vobis videtor? (What do y'all reckon?) It's time for a change in SJC and SAR. « less
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