Barbecue & Politics

Summer in Review

2008-08-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

As the final regular season of Barbecue & Politics comes to a close, and football season nears, it’s time to look back at a few of the highlights of the summer...

Anti-public school oaths, take two. For the second time in his tenure as Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford appointed a signatory of an anti-public school pledge to the Education Oversight Committee. Shameful.

Barack Obama and Lynyrd Skynyrd. An exclusive report.

The Thursday THRASH Awards. Several “South Carolina” groups won the The Howard Rich Advocacy and Shilling for Hire award for pretending to represent South Carolina values while actually being bankrolled from out of state.

The SC Association of Taxpayers won for taking money from Big Tobacco to fight an increase in our state’s cigarette tax for yet another year.

The SC Policy Council won for advancing an out-of-state voucher agenda, with lots of out-of-state voucher dollars.

Carolinians for Reform got an award because it’s actually a Texas-funded front group for God-knows-what.

The "SC" Club for Growth and SCRG got matching awards to display in their shared, Howard Rich-funded office in Columbia.

Greenwashing. For the first time ever, South Carolina has an anti-conservation group, and it calls itself “Citizens for Sound Conservation.”

Vetting Mark Sanford. Gervais took a look at (Vice President?) Mark Sanford’s “military service,” which began during his campaign for governor.

Buying South Carolina. New York millionaire Howard Rich and associates have spent over $600,000 in 2008 on South Carolina's Republican and Democratic primaries in an continuing his attempt to buy a legislature that will pass his private school voucher bill.

Seuss-gate. Will Folks blew the lid off this important scandal, I just reported on the report.

Conservatives in Action. The group that politicized our judicial races turns out to be another out-of-state front group. Shocker!

Make an omelet. Somebody egged Joshua Gross's car. How do you solve a crime for which the entire state has motive?

From Gervais and the entire Bridges Family, thanks for stopping by Barbecue & Politics over the last few months!

More on "Conservatives in Action"

2008-08-19T18:00:00.007-04:00

So yesterday I casually mentioned that South Carolina's "Conservatives in Action," which consists of a website and spokesman Taft Matney, is a Howard Rich front-group.

It really wasn't fair of Gervais to make such a conclusory statement like that without presenting both sides of the issue, so today I thought I'd rectify the situation.

CIA, you may recall, funded attack mail and television advertisements against Don Beatty (now a South Carolina Supreme Court justice) last year during his election to the state's top court by the legislature. Beatty apparently wasn't CIA's preferred candidate.

There were accusations that CIA was funded by outside interests, that the attacks were "big money hijacking the judicial process," to use the words of one lawmaker.

These allegations of out-of-state interests were generally met by "aw, that's crazy" denials.

So as a public service, Gervais decided to find out for myself whether "Conservatives in Action" was set up as a front-group for New York millionaire Howard Rich. I used my patented two-step process:

1. Listen carefully to what the group’s spokesman says about the origin of its funding.
2. Remember that the group spokesman is probably a liar, and find out the truth on my own.

Here’s Step One:

From The State, 9/17/07:

Taft Matney, a spokesman for Conservatives in Action ... declined to reveal the membership of his organization.

"They want to be involved in the political process," he said, "but they don't want to be interviewed on TV."

From The Post and Courier, 5/24/07:

When asked about how the group financed the television ads and whether out-of-state money was used, Matney said, "There are South Carolinians who have a vested interest in their government, and allegations like this and others against the CIA serve to pull away from the real subjects that the CIA has tried to highlight."

And from The Greenville News, 5/26/07:

Matney and officials with two other groups who e-mailed supporters about the race denied their groups had been involved with using out-of-state money or had spent anything like what Beatty said.

Matney called the allegation of any group attempting to buy a judgeship "ludicrous."

And here’s Step Two:

As you can see (click image to enlarge), Conservatives in Action had a little trouble scrounging up a South Carolina phone number on its IRS tax filing, available in full here.

No worries, though. They gave a phone number.

It’s the phone number for Howard Rich’s “US Term Limits.” And Howard Rich’s “Americans for Limited Government.” And Howard Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.” And – well, you get the idea.

CIA's tax forms were also prepared by the same Illinois accounting firm that counts beans for all of Rich's front groups.

John Grisham writes books about this kind of stuff, people.

Barbecue & Politics Spotlight: The Shamlapper Group

2008-08-18T21:47:00.012-04:00

Normally I don't write about political consulting firms, because there are enough blogs out there actually written by political consulting firms ... so if there's dirt to be dished, it usually gets dished with the quickness.

However, since unsuccessful State House candidate Kyle Boyd finally disclosed his campaign expenditures this Saturday, over five weeks late, this gives Gervais occasion to discuss the most deceptively named political consulting group in our state: The "Sandlapper" Group.

Boyd, whose campaign was was funded 55% from the LLC's and associates of New York millionaire Howard Rich, relied on the Sandlapper Group in his unsuccessful primary race against Rep. Carl Gullick in June.

So did Jim Whitehead, who got an unbelievable 97% of his funds from Rich and his associates in a loss in House District 83. And so did Ed Rumsey, who got 65% of his funds from Rich and associates in his loss in House District 2.

Trey Whitehurst and Roger Nutt also used Sandlapper in their losses in House Districts 3 and 35. They were each funded about 40% from Rich and other out-of-state education privatization enthusiasts.

Sandlapper also scored a Rich-funded victory: Joey Millwood, whose campaign was funded 65% from Rich's LLC's and associates, won his June primary in House District 38 by nineteen votes.

Sandlapper's candidates lapped up an incredible $25,000 per week from Rich and associates from May 9th to June 12th. Needless to say, these guys didn't let the voters know Mr. Rich was funding their campaigns. Here's the breakdown:

The Sandlapper Group
Candidates: 6
Wins: 1
Average out-of-state funding: 60%
Total Howard Rich funding: $125,000
Howard Rich funding disclosed before election: $12,000
Misleading South Carolina name: 1

It seems that sucking off Rich's teat under a misleading Palmetto State logo is a way of life for Chad Connelly and Taft Matney, the brain trust behind Sandlapper.

Connelly previously earned $63,250 a year shilling for Howard Rich as a director of his front-group "South Carolinians for Responsible Government." (source). Matney is most famous for his involvement in another Howard Rich front-group, Conservatives in Action, which tried to get Karen Floyd elected in 2006.

In other words, these boys might call their new consulting outfit "Sandlapper," but the gravy train they're riding is straight out of New York City.

UPDATE: A couple of commenters mention Chad Connelly's Amway involvement. For a good story about Connelly allegedly bilking a downstream distributor and then threatening to "take care of" him when he protested, see here.

In the spirit of the Olympics...

2008-08-17T23:14:00.003-04:00

...Gervais found this old post from about two and a half years ago. Enjoy!

Sanford brings home silver in Jobsledding

Below: Sanford poses with an out-of-state supporter
Competitors drive economies downhill in new winter sport

B & P News – Torino, Italy

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford secured a silver medal Friday in the newest sport in the Winter Games – Olympic Jobsledding. The sport, in which competitors see who can drive a state economy downhill the fastest, is Sanford’s “second-favoritest sport in the world, next to bicycle riding.”

“It’s taken me three years to become the second best jobsledder in the world,” said Sanford in a telephone interview from Italy. “My hat goes off to Gold Medalist Mississippi. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

But not everyone shares Sanford’s enthusiasm. Critics have smeared Sanford’s second-highest unemployment performance with claims that the governor is using performance-diminishing drugs to attain such a high level of joblessness so quickly.

“When we tested the jobsledders, Sanford’s urine was found to contain large levels of doping agent,” said Olympic nutritionist/economist Boris Kryzlwnkskovsky in a press conference. “But after talking to him, I realize it may be naturally occurring in his case. We’re going to re-test it.”

Sanford says that his job performance was not aided by any foreign substances.

“I achieved this distinction based on my own inabilities, not performance diminishing drugs,” said the medalist. “Ten percent lack of inspiration, ninety percent lack of perspiration. Seven percent unemploymentation.”

The Governor is the second South Carolina political entity to earn a medal in Torino. Last week, former Sanford spokesman Will Folks earned a bronze in “gurling,” another new sport which features male competitors pushing a girl across a length of ice towards a piece of furniture.

Charleston millionaires try to finally gain influence in SC politics

2008-08-08T00:01:00.003-04:00

If Gervais has said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: Charleston millionaires simply have too little influence in our state government.

A few months ago, I discussed how the South Carolina Club for Growth is here to fix that problem, by using synchronized contributions from a small group of Charleston millionaires to fund candidates around the state.

Now some folks, like Mike Huckabee, have derisively called the Club for Growth the “Club for Greed.” But Mike Huckabee has been too busy slapping his bass guitar to see the extent to which Charleston millionaires are bound by the shackles of a government dominated by an insidious special interest: non-Charleston non-millionaires.

This is especially true in districts such as House District 3 (Pickens Co.), House District 35 (Spartanburg Co.) and Senate District 23 (Lexington Co.), where non-Charleston non-millionaires have held sway since time immemorial.

When I first noticed this orchestrated funding phenomenon back in April, I only assumed that the Charleston funders were millionaires, based on the amount of money they were throwing around. This time, I decided to actually check, by using Zillow.com to look at the value of their homes.

Zillow is a great resource, especially when you're invited to a home for a party and you don't know whether to bring a bottle of wine, or a box of wine.

Anyway, for those of you as intrigued by campaign finance as I am, here’s a look at the 10 GOP primaries these Club for Growth millionaires played in, along with Gervais' unofficial box/bottle determination.

William Baker/ Ruth Baker
188 Bolly Bunion Dr., Kiawah Island
Zillow estimated value: $6,299,000 (bottle)
$1,000 3/28/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/28/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/28/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 3/28/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/12/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/16/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 5/7/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 5/7/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 4/9/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 4/9/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 6/4/08 Mike Rose
$1,000 6/4/08 Mike Rose
$1,000 6/2/08 Kyle Boyd
$1,000 6/9/08 Kyle Boyd
$1,000 6/13/08 Joey Millwood
$1,000 6/13/08 Joey Millwood
$3,500 12/13/07 SC Club for Growth PAC
$3,500 12/13/07 SC Club for Growth PAC

John Barter/ Mary Barter
40 Schoolbred Ct., Kiawah Island
Zillow estimated value: $7,497,500 (bottle)
$1,000 3/22/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/22/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/22/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 3/22/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 5/29/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 4/26/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 4/26/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 5/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 5/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 4/7/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 4/7/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 5/8/08 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 5/8/08 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 6/9/08 Joey Millwood

William Hewitt/ Laura Hewitt
34 Priloleau St. Unit B., Charleston
Zillow estimated value: $3,435,000 (box)
$1,000 3/24/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/24/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/24/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 3/24/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/11/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/11/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 5/7/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 5/6/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 4/3/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 4/3/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 5/30/08 Mike Rose
$1,000 5/30/08 Mike Rose
$1,000 6/9/08 Kyle Boyd
$1,000 6/9/08 Kyle Boyd
$1,000 6/9/08 Joey Millwood
$1,000 6/9/08 Joey Millwood
$3,500 3/7/08 SC Club for Growth PAC
$3.500 11/27/07 SC Club for Growth PAC
$3,500 11/27/07 SC Club for Growth PAC

Wilbur Prezzano/ Sheila Prezzano
28 Murray Blvd., Charleston
Zillow estimated value: $4,473,500 (bottle)
$1,000 3/25/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/25/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 3/25/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 3/25/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 4/28/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 4/28/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 5/13/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 5/13/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 4/7/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 4/7/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 5/18/08 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 5/18/08 Trey Whitehurst
$3,500 12/20/07 SC Club for Growth PAC
$3,500 12/20/07 SC Club for Growth PAC

Steve Swanson/ Emily Swanson
615 Pitt St., Mt. Pleasant
Zillow estimated value: $4,128,000 (box)
$1,000 4/8/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 6/11/08 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 4/1/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 4/8/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/6/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/9/08 Lee Bright
$1,000 6/3/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 6/3/08 Tom Davis
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 6/6/08 Roger Nutt
$1,000 4/15/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 4/15/08 Tim Scott
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 6/12/08 Scott Singer
$1,000 6/4/08 Mike Rose
$1,000 6/5/08 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 6/5/08 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 6/25/08 Kyle Boyd
$1,000 6/13/08 Joey Millwood
$1,000 6/18/08 Joey Millwood

Kyle Boyd comes clean: 55% of funds from Howard Rich & Associates

2008-08-06T00:01:00.002-04:00

When campaign finance disclosures were due on July 10^th, Gervais waited patiently to find out how much money SCRG voucher/tax credit candidate Kyle Boyd got from NYC millionaire Howard Rich and his associates, in his recent loss to GOP Rep. Carl Gullick of York.

Boyd waited until nine days after the deadline to disclose that he had neither received nor spent any money in the final two weeks of his race.

Nada. Zilch. Zero. No Howard Rich money. Swear to Gosh.

I don't think anyone was really fooled, especially not Vierdsonian Democracy.

Yesterday, Boyd finally came clean with the out-of state cash that made up 55% of his campaign funding for the election.

Of course, all but $2000 was given during the “blind spot,” after pre-election disclosures were due, so voters would have no idea the campaign was being bankrolled from out-of-state.

Kyle Boyd, House District 48 (lost)
$1,000 6/02/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Floor NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Yvonne Rich, 211 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AZ
$1,000 6/02/2008 John Kirtley 339 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacremento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Howard Rich Sole Proprietor Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich & Associates A Partnership, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 118 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 A Partnership 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 5th Ave NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/22/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC

Vouchers are not an end in themselves; they are a means to make a transition from a government to a market system … I sense that we are on the verge of a breakthrough in one state or another, which will then sweep like a wildfire through the rest of the country… ”

- Milton Friedman, Public Schools: Make Them Private (1995)

20,000 foot view of SC politics

2008-08-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

I once had a boss who would always advise taking the "20,000 ft. view" of things. It was his way of saying you should occasionally take a step back and look at the big picture if you really want to know what's going on.

Anyway, I was working on the graphic below for an upcoming thing when I remembered that expression. The graphic illustrates the 17 House primaries where Howard Rich and his associates spent at least $10,000 this year in his effort to build a State House that will pass his private school voucher and tax credit experiment in our state.

Little Pigs Barbeque: Timelessly terrific

2008-08-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

The first time I ate at Little Pigs Barbeque, this blog wasn’t even two months old.

It was November of 2005, and a reporter for The State newspaper had contacted Gervais by email about doing a story on this new-fangled political parody blog called “Barbecue & Politics.” I agreed to meet him if The State could preserve my “pseudonymity.”

The reporter and I had a nice lunch at Little Pigs as we dished on Palmetto State politics and dined on a buffet stacked with the goods: collard greens, green beans, cole slaw, whole kernel corn, three types of pulled pork (mustard-, vinegar-, and tomato-based), fried chicken, hush puppies and tons of other selections. At the time, I wasn’t eating much dessert, so I just stared longingly at the banana pudding and chocolate delight on the dessert mini-buffet.

Since that meeting in November 2005, a lot has changed in SC’s political “new media.”

The reporter, Aaron Gould Sheinin, has skipped town and is now covering presidential and Peach State politics for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He’ll be blogging the presidential conventions this year, which I suspect will be a lot of fun.

Barbecue & Politics took a turn for the serious in 2006, when it first started to become apparent that out-of-state ideologues opposed to public education were trying to hijack our state’s political process.

And the South Carolina “blogosphere” in general has become inundated with sites run out of consultant shops, instead of cluttered dining room tables.

But one thing that hasn’t changed since 2005 is the awesomeness of the Little Pigs buffet.

Last Thursday at lunch, some friends and I headed out towards the intersection of I-20 and I-77, where Little Pigs has been located for the last 30 years. After making a few trips to the buffet and one excursion to the desserts, Gervais was ready to loosen the ol’ belt and take a siesta.

I have no idea what “the weblogs” will look like in the future, or where Aaron’s talents will have landed him. But I feel sure that in another three years, and probably another thirty years, Little Pigs Barbeque will still be there on Alpine Road, serving up one of the best buffets in Columbia.

Howard Rich Primary Recap

2008-07-28T22:10:00.002-04:00

Vouchers are not an end in themselves; they are a means to make a transition from a government to a market system … I sense that we are on the verge of a breakthrough in one state or another, which will then sweep like a wildfire through the rest of the country… ”

- Milton Friedman, Public Schools: Make Them Private (1995)

So just how badly does NYC millionaire Howard Rich want our state to be a "foothold state" for the privatization of public schools? How badly does he want a state house that will pass his voucher and tax credit agenda?

Judge for yourself. Below is Gervais' list of contributions from Howard Rich and associates during the 2008 South Carolina primaries.

The full list. From Kit Spires to Thad Viers; from Scott Singer to Tommy Stringer; from Naim Salahudeen to Joey Millwood-een.

Here are the key numbers:

A total of 37 candidates got a total of over $579,000 through the fundling scheme. $419,000 of that came from at least thirty entities using an address at 73 Spring St., New York City.

Eleven of the candidates were incumbents. Twelve were candidates in open-seat races. Fourteen were challengers.

Rich used his contributions to try to replace seven GOP lawmakers and seven Democrat lawmakers. He succeeded in replacing two (both GOP).

Seven of the twelve open-seat candidates who took money from Rich prevailed.

Three of the eleven incumbents who took money from Rich were defeated. Another one dropped out of the race the day he got the money.

Thirteen candidates got more than half their campaign funds through this out-of-state funding scheme, with the highest percentage being 97%.

That's the big picture. Here's the complete list:

Ed Rumsey, House District 2 (lost)(65%)
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane], Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Jost 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Bradford Management, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associations, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC

Trey Whitehurst, House District 3 (lost)
$1,000 6/12/2008 51 First Ave. LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/12/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Fl. NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Stonecreeek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/26/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/25/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 4/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC

Tommy Stringer, House District 18 (won)
$1,000 6/03/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring Street, Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Clarmont LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 W Road 1, Moutain Home, AR
$1,000 5/27/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/19/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/07/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/07/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC

Daniel Hamilton, House District 20 (unopposed)
$1,000 6/01/2008 The Stonecreek Group, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/03/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/03/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/01/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 4/28/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC

Bob Leach, House District 21 (lost)
$1,000 3/14/2008 332 E 11 LLC (73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC)
$1,000 3/14/2008 188 Claremont LLC (73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC)
$1,000 3/14/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell (26 Broadway 23rd Flr. NYC)
$1,000 3/14/2008 Yvonne Rich (211 West Road 1 Mtn Home, AR)
$1,000 3/14/2008 John Kirtley (339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL)

Wendy Nanney, House District 22 (won)
$1,000 5/29/2008 834-14 Realty, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich and Rich, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Springs St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kevin [Sp]Illane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 A Partnership, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 470 W 166, 73 Spring St Rm. 406 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 123 LaSalle, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 2/26/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 2/13/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Fl NYC

Raymond Russell, House District 31 (lost)(76%)
$1,000 5/27/08 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 332 E11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 188 Claremount LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 470 W. 166th LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Howard Rich Sole Proprietor, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/27/08 Paul R. Farago, P.O. Box 890, Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/27/08 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

Ken Roach, House District 34 (lost)(69%)
$1,000 6/19/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Douglas Levine 2760 N. Bay Road Miami, FL

Roger Nutt, House District 35 (lost)
$1,000 6/01/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 538-14 Realty LLC 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 332 E. 11, LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bradford Management of NY, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 470 W. 166 LLC 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 51 First Avenue, LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bayrich, LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane), Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd., Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Assoc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC

(i)Joe Mahaffey, House District 36 (dropped out of race 2/29/08)
$1,000 2/29/2008 322 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 2/29/2008 538-14 Realty, LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 2/29 2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23 Flr. NYC
$1,000 2/29/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL

(i) Ralph Davenport, House District 37 (lost)
$1,000 5/19/2008 123 Lasalle, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 188 Claremont, LLC, 73 Spring St, Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway, LLC, Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway, Inc., 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/05/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC

Joey Millwood, House District 38 (won)(65%)
$1000 5/30/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1000 5/30/2008 Stilrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1000 5/30/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/30/2008 SpringRich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/30/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1000 5/30/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1000 5/24/2008 Paul Jost, 2640 Jockeys Neck Trail, Williamsburg, VA
$1000 5/24/2008 The StoneCreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1000 5/24/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1000 5/24/2008 Joseph Stillwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mtn Home, AR
$1000 5/24/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Rich and Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Silver and Silver Properties, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Spring Incorporated, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 5/16/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 5th Ave. NYC
$1000 5/14/2008 Bradford Mgmt of New York Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1000 5/12/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC

Annie McDaniel, House District 41 (lost)(85%)
$1,000 6/10/2008 538-14 Realty LLC 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 HR Sole Proprietor Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Bradford Mgmt of New York Inc, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Rich Asquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St STE 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 New Rich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 New Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Spooner, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St STE 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. STE. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2006 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC

Deborah Long, House District 45 (won)
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave., NYC

UPDATE: Kyle Boyd, House District 48 (lost)
$1,000 6/02/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Floor NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Yvonne Rich, 211 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AZ
$1,000 6/02/2008 John Kirtley 339 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacremento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Howard Rich Sole Proprietor Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich & Associates A Partnership, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 118 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 A Partnership 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 5th Ave NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/22/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC

Ennis Bryant, House District 50 (lost) (74%)
$1,000 5/29/2008 Yvonne Rich, 311 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/29/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Robert K Costello, 2135 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd St. NYC

Naim Salahudeen, House District 54 (lost)(61%)
$1,000 6/03/2008 Asheboro Investors, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 A Partnership Limited, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N.Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL

Zina Manning, House District 55 (lost)(96%)
$1000 5/29/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Floor NYC
$1000 5/29/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1000 5/29/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
$1000 5/29/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1000 5/29/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/29/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 5/29/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

Priscilla Robinson, House District 66 (lost)
$1,000 5/22/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Bradford Management of NY Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/20/2008 Joseph D Stillwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR

(i) Thad Viers, House District 68 (won)
$1,000 5/23/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St Rm 408, NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/15/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N Bay Road Miami Beach, FL

Sheri Few, House District 79 (lost)(51%)
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 470 W 166 LLC 73 Spring St. Room 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408, NYC
$1,000 5/15/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
$1,000 5/10/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/05/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/01/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm. 507, NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Springs St. Rm 507, NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave., Tampa, FL

Scott Singer, House 81 (lost)(Mr. Singer returned all but $3,000 of the contributions from 73 Spring Street, NYC)
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring Street, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/30/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA

James E. Whitehead, House District 83 (lost) (97%)
$1,000 6/03/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/03/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 666 Fifth Ave., 5th Floor NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/03/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Springs St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/03/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC

(i)Heyward Hutson, House District 94 (lost)
$1,000 6/02/2008 Paul R Farago, P.O. Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23 Flr NYC
$1,000 5/16/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/16/2008 123 Lasalle Associates A Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/16/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/16/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR

(i)Kit Spires, House District 96 (won)
$1,000 5/12/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

Wendell Gilliard, House District 111 (won)
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC A Partnership, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates A Partnership, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC

Joseph Bustos, House District 112 (lost)(55%)
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich Assoc., 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Silver and Silver Properties, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Secure Data, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Mt Rd., Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 538-14 Realty, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/24/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacremento, CA
$1,000 5/13/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 5/13/2008 123 LaSalle Assoc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/08/2008 Bradford Manufacturing, 73 Spring St. NYC

Tim Scott, House District 117 (won)
$1,000 5/30/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Flr NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/21/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 5/14/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408
$1,000 5/14/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA

(i)Curtis Brantley, House District 122 (won)(65%)
$1,000 5/28/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St., NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Bradford Mgmt. of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle, Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane] Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/23/2008 Yvonne Rich, 21111 West Rd. Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

(i) Richard Chalk, House District 123 (won)
$1,000 5/27/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Fl. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

(i) Mike Fair, Senate District 6 (won)
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway Floor 23rd Fl NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 160 W 97th St. NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 3/23/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC

Dee Compton, Senate 10 (won)
$1000 6/20/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 51 First Ave. LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 406 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Springrich LP, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Streetrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/26/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 W. Rd. 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1000 6/20/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Flr. NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul C. Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl. Williamsburg, VA
$1000 6/20/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacremento, CA
$1000 6/20/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Francisco, CA
$1000 5/24/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1000 5/24/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd. Miami Beach, FL

Lee Bright, Senate District 12 (won)
$1,000 6/23/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rosemeade Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/29/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191, Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/29/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spring, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Stilrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

Katrina Shealy, Senate District 23 (lost)(51%)
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Trucker 49 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 StillRich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Ashborough Investors, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rosemead Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spinksville LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spring Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 407 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct. Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/09/2008 Mark W Dane, 1500 Lexington Ave., Apt 23B NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Fransico, CA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Paul R Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr NYC
$1,000 6/04/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/04/2008 Sarah Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 6/04/2008 David Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 The Stone Creek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Paul C Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Chandler Mgmt (Paul C. Jost) Newport News, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Judith T. Wilson, 10424 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 5/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kimberly Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Carol S Pomerantz, 1185 Park Avenue, Apt 5C NYC
$1,000 5/15/2008 Eric S. Okeefe, 5367 Highway C, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 E & L Corporation, PO Box 279, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 Joe A. Pence, 424 Flinthill Place, Mountain Home, AR

(i)Greg Ryberg, Senate District 24 (won)
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191, Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Paul R Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor, NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 123 LaSalle Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/23/2008 123 LaSalle Associates - A Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/23/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC

Levone Graves, Senate District 30 (lost)
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 406-49 Associates LLC 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 332 E-11 LLC, 73 Spring Street NYC
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 La Salle Associates, 73 Spring Street NYC

(i)Robert Ford, Senate District 42 (won)
$1,000 6/06/2008 Vanguard Admiral 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 123 Lasalle Associates - A Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Realty LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/15/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/12/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/10/2008 The Stonecreek Group, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd. Sacramento, CA

"No possibility" Julie Hershey didn't sign anti-public school pledge

2008-07-27T00:15:00.012-04:00

From The State, Education panel appointee answers critics:

The president of the Alliance for the Separation of School and State said [newest Education Oversight Committee member Julie] Hershey signed his group’s proclamation — favoring the privatization of public education — at a 1999 Greenville event.
“There is virtually no possibility that she did not sign it, but there is every possibility that she would forget,” said alliance president Alan Schaeffer, adding others also have said they don’t remember signing the proclamation.
The California-based alliance is dedicated to privatizing all education. It wants to dismantle public schools in favor of private ones and home schooling.

Hershey’s signature appeared below the statement, “I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education.”

And from the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Hershey: Memory on education pledge hazy:

The head of an organization dedicated to ending public education says that the newest member of South Carolina's Education Oversight Committee was mistaken when she said she didn't sign a declaration of support for the group. ...
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said that Schaeffer's contention that Hershey signed the proclamation doesn't cast any doubt on her appointment.
"Not one bit," he said. "The bottom line is that our appointee says she didn't sign. It's not anything that has ever come up, but it goes without saying that if someone really believed (in ending public education) it would be inconsistent with the mission of the EOC and inconsistent with anything ever stated by our administration."

Howard Rich deputy a signatory of anti-public school pledge

2008-07-24T07:01:00.001-04:00

So for the past few days, we’ve been discussing Julie Hershey, the newest Education Oversight Committee member, whose name showed up for a brief period (4 years, at least) on the anti-public school pledge of the Alliance for Separation of School and State.

But she’s not the only interesting person on the pledge. You may have also seen Paul Farago’s name on this blog a few times.

Farago is an acupuncturist who recently moved from Oregon to North Carolina, and he’s also a director of Howard Rich’s “Americans for Limited Government.” (.pdf) He’s no stranger to writing South Carolina candidates $1000 checks, maximum contributions that are usually bundled with other $1000 checks from Rich’s myriad LLC’s.

But checks aren’t the only thing Farago knows how to sign. He’s also listed as a signatory of the pledge, “I proclaim publicly favor ending government involvement in education.” Like Julie Hershey, his name has been listed as a signatory since at least as far back as 2004, according to archived versions of the website.

Farago contributed $16,000 total to voucher/tax credit candidates in 2006, and it looks like he’s given that much in the primaries alone this year.

It's a lot of money.

Farago contributions 2008
$1,000 Edwin Rumsey
$1,000 Trey Whitehurst
$1,000 Mike Fair
$1,000 Lee Bright
$1,000 Joey Millwood
$1,000 Heyward Hutson
$1,000 Zina Manning
$1,000 Katrina Shealy
$1,000 Greg Ryberg
$1,000 Sheri Few
$1,000 Raymond Russell, Sr.
$1,000 Curtis Brantley
$1,000 Scott Singer
$1,000 Roger Nutt
$1,000 Ralph Davenport
$1,000 Dee Compton

Obama-Bryant blog war escalates

2008-07-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

Below: A screen shot of Obama's personal blog
"I would be foolish not to respond," says presidential candidate

B & P News - Amman, Jordan

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has taken to his blog to respond to a South Carolina lawmaker who made headlines earlier this week by using his internet website to post a photograph of a t-shirt that compared the candidate to international terrorist Osama Bin-Laden.

On Tuesday, after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but prior to delivering a speech in Jordan outlining his vision for peace in the Middle East , Obama updated his personal blog, "Barack's Place," to respond to state senator Kevin Bryant (R).

"I take it very seriously when a state legislator from Anderson, South Carolina takes a photograph of a t-shirt," Obama told reporters following a briefing by military commanders stationed in the region. "I would be foolish not to respond in kind by taking a picture of a t-shirt and posting it on my own personal blog."

The photograph posted by Obama features a likeness of Bryant and an unflattering reference to the state senator. Mr. Bryant told media outlets that Obama's post was "over-the-top," "insulting," and "played on people's fear of douche."

Bryant, however, vows to keep the pressure on Obama, saying he intends to use his cell phone to take a picture of a bumper sticker that he once saw featuring the phrase "No-bama."

Bryant also hinted that he plans to unveil insider information about Obama's middle name.

Another theory on Hershey and the anti-public school pledge

2008-07-22T00:01:00.004-04:00

It's been six days since Gervais first told you that the newest member of South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, Sanford appointee Julie Hershey, was a listed as a signatory of a pledge that states:

"I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education."

Six days is a long time, but by no means is it a record. Sanford appointee Karen Iacovelli remained on the EOC for eight full days after the blogosphere noted she was a listed as a signatory of the very same anti-public school oath.

Gov. Sanford's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, has suggested that Hershey's name was "planted" there, four years ago, by a very patient political foe. I liked Sawyer's explanation a lot.

Still, something told me there was another explanation out there.

Finally, it came. This one is from a blog by a guy named David J. Cassidy, who starts by lavishing some praise upon Gervais:

"Once again the author of an odious South Carolina blog has taken it upon himself to vet nominees for the Education Oversight Committee."

Cassidy then reveals he is an insider with a special "insider explanation" for how Hershey and Iacovelli ended up as signatories to the pledge, against their will and without their knowledge. It all has to do with Marshall Fritz, a man who sometimes confuses cordial conversations with public proclamations:

[W]e began to notice that some of our most important coalition members had also signed Mr. Fritz' petition, undercutting our claims that the campaign was not only in the best interest of children, but also in the best interest of quality public schools. When we contacted these petition "signers" we found again and again, that our coalition leaders had a cordial conversation with Mr. Fritz, had found that they agreed with many of the persuasive arguments he makes, but were not ready to abandon public schools and were surprised to learn that their names had been added to his list of petition signers. Like Mrs. Hershey and Mrs. Iacovelli before her, many requested their names be removed.

I see.

Maybe if I was from one of those places where book-readin' wasn't frowned upon and people used words like "odious," I'd ask Cassidy to explain why Karen Iacovelli was on the TV news reportin' show saying we should consider "scrapping the system" if she never signed the pledge against public schools.

Maybe if I had those kind of smarts in my noggin', I'd turn off the Hee Haw reruns and ask why he didn't tell Mrs. Hershey about her name being on this here pledge sometime during the last four years, before she was appointed to the EOC.

But, since I was born and raised here in the Mustard Belt, where we're taught not to do much thinkin' and whatnot, I'm going to take Cassidy's explanation at face value.

Newest EOC member removes name from anti-public school pledge

2008-07-19T01:01:00.003-04:00

Julie Hershey, the newest member of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, claims she never signed the anti-public school pledge that says:

"I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education."

According to an article in Friday's Spartanburg Herald-Journal, the Sanford appointee didn't like being asked about whether she signed the pledge:

She said she did not favor ending public education, then said she wouldn't answer any more "negative" questions before hanging up the phone.

The article says Hershey contacted the Alliance for Separation of School and State to have her name removed from the website.

So how did such a "mistake" happen? How does someone who does not favor ending government involvement in education end up as a signatory of a pledge against government involvement in education?

Mark Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer has an idea:

Sawyer said someone could easily e-mail the alliance and tell it to put [a] name on the list as a signer of the proclamation.
"Some people will do anything to try to make political hay," Sawyer said.

There's only one little problem with Joel's admittedly creative account of how Hershey's name ended up as a signatory of the pledge. Her name has been there since 2004, according to an archived version of the website.

Did someone, possibly aware that Hershey would be nominated to the Education Oversight Committee by Mark Sanford four years later, nefariously sign the anti-public school pledge on behalf of Ms. Hershey? Or have "political haymakers" perfected time travel? Is there another Julie Hershey from Greer who doesn't like public schools?

UPDATE: Ms. Hershey's name is no longer listed as a signer of the proclamation. A cached version of the site from earlier this month and archived versions of the site still list Hershey as a signatory.

Bustos, McDaniel, Millwood: Bankrolled by Rich

2008-07-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

Any psychic could have told you on June 10^th that Joe Bustos, Annie McDaniel, and Joey Millwood got 55%, 85%, and 65% of their campaign contributions, respectively, from New York millionaire Howard Rich and his associates.

Unfortunately, most South Carolinians suffer from a lack of clairvoyant abilities, and only about $6,000 of the $80,000 in out-of-state contributions below was disclosed to voters before the primary election.

Some people might say this sort of last minute cash infusion is an abuse of our campaign finance rules, purposely designed to keep voters from knowing whether a narrow special interest is exerting excessive influence on local political races.

But then again, perhaps it's simply an abuse of our campaign finance rules, purposely designed to keep voters from knowing whether a narrow special interest is exerting excessive influence on local political races.

Joseph Bustos, House District 112
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Rich & Rich Assoc., 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Silver and Silver Properties, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Secure Data, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Mt Rd., Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 538-14 Realty, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/24/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacremento, CA
$1,000 5/13/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 5/13/2008 123 LaSalle Assoc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/08/2008 Bradford Manufacturing, 73 Spring St. NYC

Annie McDaniel, House District 41
$1,000 6/10/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 HR Sole Proprietor Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Bradford Mgmt of New York Inc, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Rich Asquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St STE 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 New Rich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 New Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Spooner, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St STE 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. STE. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/10/2006 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC

Joey Millwood, House District 38 (won)
$1,000 5/30/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Stilrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 SpringRich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/24/2008 Paul Jost, 2640 Jockeys Neck Trail, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/24/2008 The StoneCreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/24/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Joseph Stillwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mtn Home, AR
$1,000 5/24/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Rich and Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Silver and Silver Properties, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Spring Incorporated, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/24/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/16/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 5th Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/14/2008 Bradford Mgmt of New York Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC

Newest EOC member signed anti-public school pledge

2008-07-16T01:00:00.005-04:00

Somebody please tell Gervais this is a joke.

Somebody please tell me that the newest member of the Education Oversight Committee is not a signatory of an oath against public education … a pledge that says:

“I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education.”

According to this press release (pdf), Julie Hershey of Greer is Mark Sanford’s latest appointee to the Education Oversight Committee, the group charged with supervising our public schools.

But the press release neglected to mention one thing.

Ms. Hershey is a signatory of a pledge against these very same schools, according to the website of the “Alliance of Separation of School and State,” the California-based group that champions the above oath. She’s been a signatory since at least as far back as 2004, according to an archived version of the site.

If this scenario – the governor appointing an anti-public school oath signatory from Greer to the Education Oversight Committee – sounds familiar, there’s a reason.

What the heck is going on here?

House 66: Howard Rich targets Gilda

2008-07-15T12:01:00.000-04:00

What’s the best way to surprise your enemy while advancing for a lethal blow?

I have no idea. Go ask a ninja.

But if you’re one of millionaire Howard Rich’s voucher groups, and you want to take out Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, you might try funding a candidate with out-of-state cash after the final campaign finance disclosure, so the public doesn’t know what you’re up to.

You might try that, but it probably won’t work.

According to disclosures filed Monday with the Ethics commission, Rep. Cobb-Hunter’s opponent got over half her campaign funds from Howard Rich and his associates.

Priscilla Robinson, House District 66
$1,000 5/22/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/20/2008 Joseph D Stillwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
*$1,000 5/31/2008 John Petry, 260 W. 72nd St, Apt. 4D NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Robert Goldstein, 11 West 54th St. NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Joel Greenblatt, 11 West 54th St. NYC
*$1,000 5/31/2008 Charles Ledley, 305 2nd Avenue, No. 516 NYC

* I don’t know who these guys are, but they also helped fund Curtis Brantley’s campaign.

Senate 12: Bright funding kept in the dark

2008-07-14T23:00:00.003-04:00

On May 27^th, Senate candidate Lee Bright turned in his final pre-election campaign finance disclosure. Here’s how much out-of-state voucher cash it showed:

$0.00

With just two weeks to go before the primary election, nothing.

Of course, that number didn’t stay at zero for long ... the goose-egg hatched just two days later.

With the coast clear, the out-of-state voucher cash from Howard Rich and associates started flowing like iced tea from the Beacon Drive-In, which may or may not actually be in that district.

Would full disclosure, real disclosure, have made a difference in Lee Bright’s 51%-49% victory over fellow Republican Scott Talley in Senate District 12?

I dunno. But Howard Rich and SCRG sure seem to have thought so.

Lee Bright, Senate District 12
$1,000 5/29/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spring, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Stilrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/29/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/29/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191, Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 28 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/16/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich Acquisitions, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/16/2008 Rosemeade Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/23/2008 Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC

Also Spartanburg-related: Vierdsonian Democracy - Howard Rich's Joey Millwood threatened by Doug Brannon

Public Service Announcement

2008-07-14T12:01:00.000-04:00

Howard Rich spent a lot of money on Katrina Shealy

2008-07-13T20:31:00.009-04:00

Senate District 23 candidate Katrina Shealy took an incredible amount of money off Howard Rich’s hands in her recent primary loss to Republican Jake Knotts. And I mean incredible.

The State on Friday reported that “[o]ut-of-state donors accounted for $57,000, or 41.5 percent, of what Shealy raised.”

But those numbers, as disturbing as they are, did not include the runoff election. Include the runoff, and Shealy got 51% of her campaign funds ($97,000) from out-of-state.

How much of this out-of-state voucher cash were voters aware of on Election Day and Runoff Election Day?

Um, just $5,000.

The rest came during the “blindspot,” the period between Shealy's final public disclosure and the election.

Which means there wasn't much “disclosure” at all.

Katrina Shealy, Senate District 23
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Trucker 49 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 StillRich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Ashborough Investors, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Rosemead Investors LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spinksville LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Spring Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Silver & Silver Properties, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St., Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 407 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Streetrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/31/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/06/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Spring St. NYC

$1,000 6/11/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct. Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr. NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/09/2008 Mark W Dane, 1500 Lexington Ave., Apt 23B NYC
$1,000 6/09/2008 William A. Wilson, 14024 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Fransico, CA
$1,000 6/09/2008 Paul R Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/09/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 6/08/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Flr NYC
$1,000 6/04/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/04/2008 Sarah Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 6/04/2008 David Vanderveen, 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 The Stone Creek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Paul C Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Chandler Mgmt (Paul C. Jost) Newport News, VA
$1,000 5/31/2008 Judith T. Wilson, 10424 Woodbury Woods Ct., Fairfax, VA
$1,000 5/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kimberly Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/28/2008 Carol S Pomerantz, 1185 Park Avenue, Apt 5C NYC
$1,000 5/15/2008 Eric S. Okeefe, 5367 Highway C, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 E & L Corporation, PO Box 279, Spring Green, WI
$1,000 5/15/2008 Joe A. Pence, 424 Flinthill Place, Mountain Home, AR

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Bill Wilson is a director of Rich’s “US Term Limits” and “Americans for Limited Government.”
6. Paul Farago is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
7. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
8. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”
9. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.
10. Anita Anderson was the named sponsor of Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.

Nanney: 45% from Rich and Associates

2008-07-13T12:01:00.001-04:00

House District 22’s next lawmaker filed her post-election campaign finance disclosure on Saturday, and the good news is that 55% of her money came from “South Carolina,” the triangular-shaped state that surrounds the district.

Only 45% came from out-of-state voucher interests.

But, in keeping with SCRG’s modus operandi, most of the money from Howard Rich and his associates was funneled in after the final pre-election disclosure, so voters had no idea.

Wendy Nanney, House District 22 (won)
$1,000 5/29/2008 834-14 Realty, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/29/2008 Rich and Rich, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Springs St Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 A Partnership, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 51 First Ave LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 470 W 166, 73 Spring St Rm. 406 NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 123 LaSalle, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/26/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave NYC
$1,000 2/26/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave. Tampa, FL
$1,000 2/13/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Fl NYC

Nutt, Whitehurst bankrolled by voucher interests

2008-07-12T15:01:00.004-04:00

It would’ve been a lot of money for voters to swallow. But then again, “voters” were never aware of it.

90% of the out-of-state voucher cash that fueled the Roger Nutt and Trey Whitehurst campaigns was pumped in after the final campaign finance reports, so folks wouldn’t see it before heading to the polls.

The only things the voters saw were these quotes in the newspaper:

Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 6/5/08: “Nutt also says it's misleading for critics to categorize him as a puppet of ‘out-of-state interests’ when a relatively small amount of his direct campaign contributions come from people affiliated with Rich…”

Anderson Independent-Mail, 5/28/08: “Regarding receiving money from groups based outside the state, Whitehurst said, ‘I have received a total of $5,000 from out of state, and most of that was from my family.’”

Roger Nutt, House District 35
$1,000 6/01/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 538-14 Realty LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 332 E. 11, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bradford Management of NY, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 470 W. 166 LLC 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 51 First Avenue, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/01/2008 Bayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane), Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd., Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Assoc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/09/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC

Trey Whitehurst, House District 3
$1,000 6/12/2008 51 First Ave. LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/12/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Fl. NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/12/2008 Alan Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/26/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/25/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907, Ashville, NC
$1,000 5/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 4/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC

Few: 51% from Howard Rich and Associates

2008-07-11T23:20:00.003-04:00

Sheri Few may have lost her runoff election, but she won the distinction of being the GOP primary candidate in House District 79 who took the most cash from Howard Rich and associates: 51% of her campaign was bankrolled by SC's biggest special interest.

Tied for second place were GOP nominee David Herndon (0%) and Republican Tony Lamm (0%).

I've place an asterisk beside the contributions that were not reported on Few's May 25th pre-election disclosure.

Sheri Few, House District 79
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St Room 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/11/2008 Douglas H. Levine 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
$1,000 6/11/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/27/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave. NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/22/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 470 W 166 LLC 73 Spring St. Room 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
*$1,000 5/19/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408, NYC
*$1,000 5/15/2008 Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami, FL
*$1,000 5/10/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
*$1,000 5/05/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
*$1,000 5/01/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 4/29/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Springs St. Rm. 507, NYC
$1,000 3/04/2008 Bradford Mgmt, 73 Springs St. Rm 507, NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 2/28/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S Plant Ave., Tampa, FL

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
7. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”

House 81: Trojan Horse in Horse Country

2008-07-11T00:01:00.001-04:00

UPDATE 7/20/08: According to the Aiken Standard, Scott Singer has returned all but $3,000 of the funds sent to his campaign by Howard Rich, noting that he did not feel comfortable getting so much money from a single source.

Scott Singer’s ill-fated campaign for House District 81 didn’t get any contributions from Howard Rich and his associates, except for a lot.

Based on disclosures filed Thursday, SCRG dutifully funneled gobs of Rich's out-of-state money into the open-seat race against eventual GOP nominee Tom Young.

You're going to find this hard to believe, but Howie's SC puppet group made sure Aiken voters had no idea … none of this money was pumped in until after the final ethics disclosure.

Those rascals!

Scott Singer, House 81
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring Street, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St, Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 123 Lasalle Inc, 73 Spring St., Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/30/2008 Douglas H Levine, 2760 N. Bay Road, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 6/30/2008 Paul R. Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 Alan J Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC
$1,000 6/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA

Roach: 69% from Howard Rich and associates

2008-07-10T23:29:00.004-04:00

If you ever wanted to know what lawmakers were thinking when they passed a certain bill, a good place to start is a little blurb they call the “Whereas Clause.” Most of the time, the “Whereas Clause” is right at the beginning of the bill.

Usually it goes something like, “WHEREAS, there aren’t enough different types of license plates in South Carolina…”

If you're nerdy enough to look at the “Whereas Clause” of our state ethics laws, you’ll see that lawmakers wanted to “to improve the disclosure of contribution sources in reasonable and effective ways” and “to reduce the influence of large contributors with specific financial stakes in matters before government.”

But enough with the Civics lesson… let’s check in on the disclosures filed Thursday by Ken Roach, who lost his open-seat GOP primary against Mike Forrester on June 10^th.

In that race, Roach got 69% of his campaign contributions from New York millionaire Howard Rich and associates. But, of course, voters in Spartanburg County had no idea, because all this cash came in after the final public disclosure. In fact, it came in after the election itself.

Deficit spending to avoid disclosure… you gotta love it, people!

Ken Roach, House District 34
$1,000 6/19/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Rich and Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Howard Rich, Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 470 W. 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E. 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Douglas Levine 2760 N. Bay Road Miami, FL

Long: 40% of primary funding from Rich & friends

2008-07-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

Optometrist Deborah Long, the Republican nominee to replace Mick Mulvaney, seems to share Mick's affinity for Howard Rich's voucher cash.

According to disclosures filed Tuesday with the State Ethics Commission, Long got 40% of her primary campaign funding from the libertarian millionaire and his associates.

Voters in District 45 didn't know this, though, because the vast majority of this cash came during the blind spot (optometry pun!) between her last public disclosure and the June 10th election.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20.

Deborah Long, House District 45
$1,000 6/02/2008 188 Claremont LLC 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring Street Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 The Stonecreek Group (Kevin Spillane) Sacramento, CA
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 6/02/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Road 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/02/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/19/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 123 LaSalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/18/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Ave., NYC

House District 2 disclosures in

2008-07-08T22:05:00.010-04:00

According to disclosures filed Tuesday with the State Ethics Commission, Howard Rich and his associates funded about 65% of the unsuccessful primary campaign against Rep. Bill Sandifer (R-Oconee).

Rumsey might rhyme with clumsy, but the financiers of Ed Rumsey's campaign were downright skillful when it came to keeping all this private school voucher cash hidden from the view of voters.

SCRG funneled most of the out-of-state cash into the campaign after the final pre-election finance report.

Deceptive? Sure. Underhanded? Yep. Contrary to the purpose of our state disclosure laws? Of course.

But it's what we've come to expect from the purveyors of "sewer politics" in South Carolina.

Ed Rumsey, House District 2
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 123 LaSalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane], Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Jost 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl, Williamsburg, VA
$1,000 5/30/2008 Paul Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000 5/30/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1,000 5/30/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd, Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 5/12/2008 Bradford Management, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 LaSalle Associations, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000 5/12/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 767 Fifth Avenue NYC

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago (actually of Oregon) is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
7. Doug Levine is a director or former director of Rich’s “Legislative Education Action Drive.”
8. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.

House District 122 still belongs to Howard Rich

2008-07-08T00:01:00.000-04:00

According to disclosures filed Monday, the most influential address in House District 122 (Beaufort, Hampton, & Jasper Cos.) is still libertarian Howard Rich’s SoHo apartment.

For the last two years, the seat has been occupied by Curtis Brantley, elected in a 2006 campaign that was funded 84% by Howard Rich and friends. This year, more of the same: Brantley got at least 65% of his funding from Rich and associates.

But the sole member of the legislative black caucus to vote for vouchers isn’t an idiot…

Like Republican Dee Compton, he waited until after the final pre-election disclosure to let Howard Rich slather his bread with copious amounts of New York butter.

After all, what the voters don’t know, won’t hurt ‘em.

Curtis Brantley, District 122

$1,000 5/28/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 405 49 Associates 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 4220 Broadway Inc. 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St., NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Howard Rich, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Bradford Mgmt. of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 123 Lasalle, Inc., 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC

$1,000 5/28/2008 The Stonecreek Group [Kevin Spillane] Sacramento, CA
$1,000 5/28/2008 Paul Farago, P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1,000 5/28/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/23/2008 Yvonne Rich, 21111 West Rd. Mountain Home, AR
$1,000 6/19/2008 Joseph Stilwell, 26 Broadway NYC
$1,000 6/19/2008 Doug Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

Dee Compton funded by Howard Rich

2008-07-07T00:01:00.002-04:00

If you ever wondered how many entities NYC libertarian Howard Rich uses to get around our state’s contribution limits, look no further than candidate Dee Compton’s latest ethics disclosure, filed Saturday with the State Ethics Commission.

Seriously, the last time an out-of-state millionaire discretely lavished this much money on someone, Julia Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award.

Per SCRG's standard operating procedures, voters in the primary had no idea … all this voucher cash was given during the blind spot between the candidate’s final public disclosure and the election.

Dee Compton, Senate 10

$1000 6/20/2008 Bayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich & Rich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Newrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Dayrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 470 W 166 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 51 First Ave. LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Bradford Mgmt of NY, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Secure Data LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Spooner LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 332 E 11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 507 NYC
$1000 6/11/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 406 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Springrich LP, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 Streetrich, LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste. 408 NYC
$1000 5/24/2008 West 14 & 18 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 6/26/2008 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC

And, of course, Rich's associates:

$1000 6/20/2008 Alan J. Pomerantz, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Yvonne Rich, 2111 W. Rd. 1 Mountain Home, AR
$1000 6/20/2008 Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Flr. NYC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul R. Farago P.O. Box 8907 Asheville, NC
$1000 6/20/2008 Paul C. Jost, 2640 Jockey's Neck Trl. Williamsburg, VA
$1000 6/20/2008 Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd 191 Sacremento, CA
$1000 6/20/2008 Anita Anderson, 1161 Rhode Island St., San Francisco, CA
$1000 5/24/2008 John Kirtley, 339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL
$1000 5/24/2008 Douglas Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd. Miami Beach, FL

Notes:
1. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.
2. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”
3. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”
4. Kevin Spillane was the spokesman for Howard Rich’s failed 2006 California Takings Initiative.
5. Paul Farago (actually of Oregon) is a director of Rich’s "Americans for Limited Government."
6. Anita Anderson was the named sponsor of Howard Rich’s California Takings Initiative.
7. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.
8. Paul Jost is the chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth, which Rich oversees as president of Club for Growth State Action.

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-03T23:31:00.005-04:00

From the Bridges Family to your family...

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

1260 mph down I-26

2008-07-03T00:01:00.002-04:00

$18,000.

According to disclosures filed Wednesday with the State Ethics Commission, that’s how much money libertarian Howard Rich spent in a single day (May 27th) in a single House District (#31) trying to oust Rep. Harold Mitchell in the June 10th primary.

That’s 18 times the South Carolina contribution limit for an individual. In a single day.

For a little perspective, if there was a similar loophole in our speeding laws, Rich could travel 1260 mph (Mach 1.6) down Interstate 26.

All told, Rich funded 65% of the campaign to unseat Mitchell. Factor in his associates, and it’s more like 76%.

Voters didn’t know about this because, in true SCRG style, the voucher cash was tucked into the race during the two-week “blind spot” between the final disclosure and the election.

Here’s the breakdown from the Ethics Commission, for those of you keeping score at home:

Candidate Raymond Russell, Total Contributions: $27,500
$1,000, Springrich Limited Partnership, 73 Spring St., Rm. 507 NYC
$1,000, 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Silver & Silver Properties LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Rich Acquisitions LLC, 73 Spring St. Ste 507 NYC
$1,000, 332 E11 LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Bradford Mgmt of NY Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 123 Lasalle Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 188 Claremount LLC, 73 Spring St. NYC
$1,000, 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 4220 Broadway Inc., 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 4220 Broadway LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 470 W. 166th LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Rich & Rich Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, 51 First Avenue LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Dayrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Howard Rich Sole Proprietor, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Newrich LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1,000, Joseph D. Stilwell, 26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC
$1,000, Paul R. Farago, P.O. Box 890, Asheville, NC
$1,000, Douglas H. Levine, 2760 N. Bay Rd., Miami Beach, FL

Howard Rich, SCRG targeted Rep. Jackie Hayes

2008-07-02T00:01:00.005-04:00

“House incumbent Rep. Jackie Hayes is truly one of the most conservative members of the House Minority party,” according to a recent endorsement from the SC Chamber of Commerce.

So why would a group like SCRG, who says its goal is to “implement and sustain conservative policies,” target Hayes (D-Dillon) by funneling tons of out-of-state money to try to oust him in his June 10^th primary?

Probably the same reason any lawmaker is targeted by SCRG: because he doesn’t support New York libertarian Howard Rich’s voucher agenda.

According to disclosure filed Monday, 88% (Update: 96%) of Hayes’ primary opponent’s contribution total for the election cycle was from out-of-state. 48% was from Howard Rich's own entities at 73 Spring Street, New York City.

Voters at the polls didn’t know this, mind you, because all this out-of-state voucher cash was funneled by SCRG during the “blind spot,” the period between the final disclosure and the election. (Hayes still managed to squeak by with 78% of the vote.)

Anyway, here’s the breakdown, from the State Ethics Commission:

Candidate Zina Manning, Total Contributions: $8330
$1000 (5/29) Joseph D Stilwell, 26 Broadway 23 Floor NYC
$1000 (5/29) Yvonne Rich, 2111 West Rd. 1, Mountain Home, AR
$1000 (5/29) Kevin Spillane, 2443 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA
$1000 (5/29) Paul Farago, PO Box 8907, Asheville, NC
$1000 (5/29) 538-14 Realty LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 123 Lasalle Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 188 Claremont LLC, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC
$1000 (5/29) 405 49 Associates, 73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC

More on SC's fake conservation group

2008-07-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

Gervais decided to delve a little deeper into South Carolina’s first bogus conservation group, “Citizens for Sound Conservation,” this weekend.

I figured the best way to learn about the group, and perhaps win its endorsement in my upcoming general election contest (Chesterburg Co.) was to fill out their “candidate questionnaire.” (pdf).

It consisted of 13 yes/no questions and one essay question:

1. Do you support the use of incentives over government regulations when it comes to balancing growth with environmental protection?

Yes, incentives are better. I think a good incentive would be, “If you dump this here, we’ll fine you thousands of dollars or take away your permit.” Wait, that’s a regulation. But, in the interest of getting this endorsement, I’ll stick with “yes.”

2. Do you believe environmental goals can be met via market driven reforms rather than government mandates?

The free market has done wonders for the environment (that’s why there’s no pollution!) so let’s give it a whirl.

3. Generally speaking, do you believe the business community is doing a good job in advancing environmental protection initiatives?

Most business leaders want to take care of the environment, either because of common sense or because they realize South Carolina’s natural beauty is one of its biggest selling points. In fact, there's only one anti-conservation website in the whole state.

4. Recent studies indicate that the average consumer may pay $100 or more on their monthly electric bill if utilities are required to include renewable energy options. Do you support renewable energy mandates even if consumers are forced to pay more?

My last electric bill was $131, so it sounds like my costs would go down in this hypothetical situation. But thanks for looking out for the consumer, Ralph Nader.

5. Do you support efforts to place a moratorium on the construction of coal plants for energy production?

No. I support a "less-atorium," a word I just made up to hide the fact that I don’t know what “moratorium” means.

6. Do you support South Carolina based offshore exploration for natural gas?

Only as opposed to on-shore exploration.

7. Do you support the renewed focus towards nuclear energy?

I support nuclear energy if it powers my laptop. But the focus should probably be on renewable energy.

8. Do you believe the State Ports Authority, through its permitting and voluntary efforts with DHEC, is taking appropriate management actions to ensure cleaner air and water is achieved with port expansion?

I have reason to doubt “port expansion” can achieve cleaner air and water. But if it can, let’s make the whole coast a port.

9. With regard to conservation and the economy, do you believe that sound, proven science should be the predominant factor in drafting regulations for a statewide water plan?

If “sound science” is anything like “sound conservation,” I’ll say no.

10. Do you support imposing impact fees on home buyers to pay for government services associated with new residential development?

Maybe I just fell off the turnip truck, but I thought impact fees are imposed on developers, not “home buyers.” And of course the developers should have to pay for government services for new developments.

11. Do you support establishing regional planning bodies with land use and planning authority over and above those powers already exercised by county and municipal governments?

I don’t know. Municipalities and counties are already expensive enough for developers to co-opt, so I think another layer of authority to purchase might make development cost-preclusive.

12. Do you believe that property owners should be compensated as a result of land use regulations or ordinances that devalue their property (also known as “regulatory takings” or “just compensation”)?

I think there are better ways to cripple a community's ability to plan land use.

13. Regarding energy policy, do you support the philosophy of some environmental groups who believe that limiting supply and increasing cost is the best approach to energy conservation?

Personally, I’m sick of these environmentalists nagging me to turn off the bathroom light. What if I’m going right back in there? Okay, so I’m not. I’m sorry. Yes, we can watch Desperate Housewives.

14. What do you believe is the most important environmental issue facing our state and what is your approach to solving that issue?

Conservation, by conserving land and water.

Gervais says, I’m pretty sure I’ve got this endorsement locked up.

Hudson's Express in Cayce closed

2008-06-30T00:01:00.004-04:00

It ain't the first time this particular parcel on Knox Abbot Drive has broken poor Gervais' heart.

According to sign on the door, Hudson's Express has closed its doors, but will relocate in the near future.

Something fishy about new "conservation" group

2008-06-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

That little kid in the Sixth Sense had knack for seeing “dead people.” I have a gift kinda like that, except totally different.

My gift is the ability to see through carefully named groups, usually with Palmetto Tree logos, that are totally the opposite of what they seem.

So when I first heard about “Citizens for Sound Conservation,” our state’s new “conservation” group, I was a little bit wary. Don’t we already have a few effective groups aimed at conserving our state’s natural splendor?

Like the Conservation Voters? The Coastal Conservation League? The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina? The SC Wildlife Federation?

There’s plenty of actual conservation groups out there, doing their part to protect our state’s natural resources for future generations. And I appreciate it, as I’m sure my little Petunia and Gervais Jr. will too.

So while I have an affinity for actual conservation organizations, something seems a little off about this group.

I checked the website, and the group was formed on Earth Day, by such notable South Carolina conservationists as … well, there was no one with any sort of conservation or environmental track record to speak of.

In fact, the organization has no board at all, so I guess the “citizens” portion of the name is purely speculative.

Still, the website had some great links to articles about the environment, such as “No reason we can’t get cheap oil – just drill!” and “Want to lower gas prices? Then drill,” and “Showing ‘intent’ to drill might just work wonders.”

Then there’s “Global warming alarmists like high gas prices,” and “Conservation League should reveal whether it really wants a port.”

Most of the articles are pro-development, pro-new power plant, or pro-port expansion.

In fact, if there’s one thing that Citizens for Sound Conservation doesn't really advocate, it’s the preservation of South Carolina’s natural resources. It's almost as if the group was formed to oppose actual conservation groups.

But, of course, that's crazy talk.

Knotts, Herndon win in Midlands GOP runoffs

2008-06-25T00:01:00.001-04:00

From The State, Knotts, Herndon score big wins:

Knotts declared the tax credit issue, often called school vouchers, “dead” in South Carolina….

“Howard Rich can bag up his baggies (of money) and he can move to another state because they are not going to make any headway in South Carolina against public education.”

Lexington votes

2008-06-24T00:01:00.001-04:00

You gotta love Lexington County politics.

Frivolous

2008-06-23T19:38:00.005-04:00

Rumor has it that the dismissal of South Carolinians for Responsible Government's lawsuit against Lexington 1 got affirmed today by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

A less reliable rumor has it that SCRG president Randy Page was seen at a local McDonald's intentionally spilling hot coffee on his lap.

The Runoffs

2008-06-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

Gervais doesn’t do endorsements. A blogger who does endorsements is like Tae Bo instructor who gives out black belts. Don’t ask me exactly how that simile works, or what year Tae Bo disappeared from the cultural consciousness, just trust me.

I did "Undorsements" a couple years ago, but come on.

So here are “the runoff races I’ll be watching closely” with “commentary indicating how I would vote if I lived in the district” and I wasn’t a “convicted felon”:

Knotts/Shealy: The fireworks stands are opening their awnings, which is good because the 4th of July is coming early this year in Lexington County. In this Senate 23 GOP Primary, candidate Katrina Shealy has ridden a wave of out-of-state voucher cash to land in a runoff with Jake “Light Fuse Get Away” Knotts. Dueling endorsements, dueling TV ads, and in some remote hamlets of Lexington County, dueling banjos. By far the hottest race in the state on Tuesday.

Talley/Bright: Everyone knows the SC Club for Growth shares the same bed with SCRG. The only question is who rolls over whom to press the snooze button in the morning. In this Spartanburg County Senate 12 race, candidate Lee Bright has received abut $15,000 in contributions associated with the Club. Then, the Club’s executive director spent his first few months in SC firing missives at Scott Talley, and blogger Will Folks unearthed a scandal of epic proportions by asserting that on some nights Talley might not have read to his kids. Amazingly, Talley still managed to come out on top in the primary, about 500 votes shy of an outright win.

Herndon/Few: This is a runoff between two former Kershaw County GOP chairs. David Herndon has the endorsement of outgoing House 79 Rep. Bill Cotty. On the other side, voucher candidate Sheri Few has gotten more money from Howard Rich over the last two years than his own wife, but has yet to win an election with all this voucher cash. The winner faces Democrat Anton Gunn in the fall.

Rivers/Brantley: As usual, Jasper County is the epicenter of political upheaval in South Carolina. House 122 Rep. Curtis Brantley is the sole Democrat and the sole member of the Legislative Black Caucus to support vouchers. It’s refreshingly independent, until you realize that 84% of his campaign funding in 2006 was from Howard Rich and other out-of-state voucher donors … then, it doesn’t seem very refreshing at all, and definitely not independent. Former Rep. Thayer Rivers, who was blindsided by all the out-of-state cash last go-round, has forced a runoff with Brantley on Tuesday.

Young/Singer: In this Aiken race for House 81, SCRG sent out mail attacking Tom Young, so he’s probably the best candidate. I really don’t know much about this contest, so I googled “young singer aiken.” I still don’t know much about the race, but that Clay Aiken really has some pipes!

Should make for an interesting Tuesday night.

"Gangs of New York"

2008-06-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

From Tuesday's Spartanburg Herald-Journal:

The common thread between [state senate candidate Lee] Bright and [Tom] Davis is that they are backed by S.C. Club for Growth, South Carolinians for Responsible Government and Conservatives in Action - three organizations that state Rep. Harold Mitchell collectively refers to as the "Gangs of New York" because of their ties to private school voucher proponent and New York millionaire Howard Rich.

Blue Ridge BBQ Festival

2008-06-17T00:01:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was the Bridges family’s first-ever trip to the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival in Tryon, NC, and it’s definitely going to be an annual event. We had a great time.

There was non-stop music, great barbecue, kiddie rides, crafts, cold beer, and even a cool river to wade in when the mercury got too high.

If you’ve never been to this festival, I wholeheartedly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed.

Here are some of the South Carolina teams that competed this year:

Bare Bonz BBQ, Greenwood (1^st Place ‘Anything But’)
Big Herbs Smokin’ BBQ (5^th Place ‘Anything But’)
Bone Heads, Charleston
B.S. Pittmeister, Boiling Springs (5^th Place Chicken, 2^nd Place Pork Ribs)
Butts-R-Us, Spartanburg
Cannon’s BBQ Hut, Spartanburg
Common Interest, Charleston
Divine Smoke, Greenwood (4^th Place Pork, 3^rd Place Overall)
Pappa Smoke, West Columbia (Gervais’ team)
Smokin Tigers BBQ, Simpsonville
Southern Hillbilly Smokers, Moore
Sue E. Pigg, Clemson (4^th Place ‘Anything But’)
Swine Time, Murrell’s Inlet
Too Bad You’re My Cousin, Greenville (2^nd Place ‘Anything But’)
Up In Smoke, Greenville

*My other favorite team names were Funk Q & The Pig You Rode In On, and Silence of the Hams (slogan: “It puts the sauce on itself”).

Howard S. Rich vs. Gervais S. Bridges

2008-06-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

Gervais got a nice note in the mailbox last week. It was a letter from the State Ethics Commission telling me that SCRG president Randy Page’s complaint against me had been dismissed.

This is really good news, because now I have zero pending ethics complaints, which happens to be my target number.

Those of you who’ve been following Barbecue & Politics for about a minute know that I like to skewer Page and the rest of the employees of the “South Carolina” school voucher faction a lot. Usually it has something to do with SCRG being funded by a NYC millionaire whose interest in education only goes as far as diverting funds from public schools in our state.

In fact, other than being a complete sham, I really have no major gripes with SCRG.

Some might say I’m beating a dead horse, but to me it feels more like a piñata. Except instead of a stick I’m using a laptop. And instead of candy, it’s slimy politics and out-of-state cash that oozes out.

For Gervais, this stuff is fun. And people get all sensitive about it, which makes it even more fun. It has a high Squirm Factor.

But that’s just Gervais S. Bridges. When I’m not using the nom de plume, I like to talk about this stuff too.

I talk about the candidates who got 99% of their funds from out-of-state.

I talk about the phony letters SCRG sent to the newspaper, and the radio ads that mispronounced “South Carolinians,” because I think it says a lot about what’s going on here.

I like to talk about the oaths against public education, the many LLC’s Howard Rich uses to get around our state’s contribution limits, and the guy who was listed as a $1000 contributor to a voucher candidate even though he didn’t give a red cent.

I speak to the people leading the fight against this voucher scheme, and help them articulate the message about what exactly is going on in South Carolina politics, from a blogger's perspective.

I speak to groups of people around the state who just want to know about this stuff.

I’ve even fueled up the truck and driven across the state to have one-on-one chats with real-life SC lawmakers, trying to fix this problem.

Now here’s where I’ll give you a warning. Before you go gettin’ the notion that you’re going to talk to a lawmaker about a problem, you better keep reading.

I’ve discovered that some folks don’t particularly like it when you talk about SCRG being one of Howard Rich’s front groups. And nobody dislikes it more than someone who gets paid $88,000 a year to pretend that it’s not.

So when I got a call from the Ethics Commission a couple months ago letting me know SCRG president Randy Page had filed a complaint against me accusing me of being an unregistered lobbyist, I wasn’t altogether surprised. The truth is, I’ve grown to enjoy the exasperated “you and your blog” look that my wife gives when things like this come up.

Until somebody invents a machine that automatically turns New York money into frivolous complaints and junk mail, this is Page’s job.

And if he thinks it’s a good use of Howard Rich's cash, I’m not going to argue with him.

Scientists converge on SC to confirm sightings

2008-06-13T00:01:00.002-04:00

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, black GOP lawmaker allegedly spotted in Palmetto State

B&P News – N. Charleston

Scientists from around the country are traveling to South Carolina this weekend to investigate the appearance of an entity long thought to be extinct, and also to look for a bird. The experts are in the Palmetto State hoping to confirm alleged sightings of a black Republican elected to the State House, and the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in the Lowcountry.

“This is really amazing to me,” said ornithologist Cooper Hawkins of Minnesota. “Against all odds, there are rumors of a black Republican lawmaker in South Carolina.”

Scientists are also excited about the Ivory Bill.

“Sure, I guess that’s neat,” said Hawkins. “But come on, Republican?”

There have been no confirmed cases of black Republican election in the South Carolina State House since Reconstruction, and the last established sighting of an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker was also decades ago.

Still, authorities have found the initial reports credible enough to warrant a full-scale investigation, even if previously alleged South Carolina sightings have been forgeries.

In 1971, then-legislator Alex Sanders claimed to have heard the distinctive double rap of the Ivory Bill in the Santee Swamp. The claim is now widely believed to have been a hoax aimed at conserving swampland.

Ten years later, freshman state senator Glenn McConnell of Charleston claimed to be the first black Republican lawmaker since Reconstruction, but researchers later ascertained that he was in fact very, very white.

Bill Sandifer in House District 2 GOP primary

2008-06-11T00:57:00.004-04:00

Bill Sandifer: 72%
Ed Rumsey: 28%

From the Anderson Independent Mail:

Sandifer, 63, had little trouble fending off Rumsey in the Republican primary 3,269 to 1,283, according to unofficial returns Tuesday...

Rumsey, a salesman and former chairman of the Oconee County Republican Party, campaigned for school choice and received financial backing from people outside of South Carolina who favor school vouchers.

Carl Gullick in House District 48 GOP primary

2008-06-11T00:29:00.004-04:00

Carl Gullick: 52%
Kyle Boyd: 48%

From the Charlotte Observer:

“They spent some money,” Gullick said Tuesday night. “Kyle Boyd seems to be a nice guy. That wasn't the issue. The issue was SCRG. They attempted to buy a seat, and they almost got it.”
…
The organization put out more than a dozen varieties of pro-Boyd fliers, including one sent this week that claimed legislators voted against hunting and fishing rights.

Mike Sottile in House District 112 GOP primary

2008-06-10T23:30:00.003-04:00

Mike Sottile: 56%
Joe Bustos: 44%

Pictured: junk mail from "South Carolinians" for Responsible Government

Mike Forrester in House District 34 GOP primary

2008-06-10T23:07:00.002-04:00

Mike Forrester: 56%
Ken Roach: 44%

Pictured: "issue advocacy" mail from "South Carolinians" for Responsible Government

B.R. Skelton in House District 3 GOP primary

2008-06-10T22:35:00.000-04:00

B.R. Skelton: 54%
Trey Whitehurst: 46%

Pictured: junk mail from "South Carolinians" for Responsible Government

Keith Kelly in House District 35 GOP primary

2008-06-10T22:03:00.003-04:00

Keith Kelly: 55%
Roger Nutt: 45%

Pictured: junk mail from "South Carolinians" for Responsible Government.

Vote Today!

2008-06-10T00:01:00.005-04:00

And follow the results of the primaries tonight at SCVotes.org. In the past, the SC Votes site has done a good job posting results as they come in from the counties.

SCVotes.org: Just add soda pop and the trait of political nerdiness, and let the good times roll!

UPDATE 7:32 PM: Results are trickling in over at WIS-TV's website.

More SCRG in the news

2008-06-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

SCRG is having some good news days lately if their goal is bumping their name recognition up a few notches. If, on the other hand, their goal is not being exposed as a front group for an anti-public education ideologue in New York City... well, they better buy up all the newspapers they can with all that money.

Spartanburg Herald-Journal: "Whenever you hear the pig squeal, you know you're getting its attention," [Republican Rep. Bill] Cotty said. "We have an immigration problem in South Carolina that the bill we passed didn't handle: The immigration of out-of-state dollars by rich special interests who are trying to buy our state election by election, issue by issue, without revealing who they really are, where they're really from and what they're really about."

Anderson Independent-Mail: Oconee County’s Bill Sandifer, a Republican in the South Carolina House, is the latest local lawmaker to come under attack by voucher and tax credit proponents (read: public money for private education) disguised not too cleverly as “responsible” citizens of South Carolina.

Free Times: Perhaps exemplifying SCRG’s role in the South Carolina project, an Anderson County councilman, Ron Wilson, said [SCRG president Randy] Page called him in ’06 and offered him big-time financial backing to run against Rep. Dan Cooper, R-Anderson and chair of the powerful budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, according to a Feb. 28 article in the Post and Courier.

Get your voter registration cards out, people. Sandlapper Super Tuesday is just a few days away.

B&P EXCLUSIVE: A look at the hit list pledge

2008-06-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

The State newspaper recently mentioned a “contract for change” which may or may not be a political stunt, may or may not have been drafted by former Sanford spokesman Will Folks, may or may not have been plagiarized from The State’s editorial pages, and may or may not have been signed by the slate of voucher candidates who are being funded by NYC millionaire Howard Rich this cycle.

The contract is a farce, but truth be told, I wondered if the Hit List Compact had some solid ideas.

By posing as a candidate in fictional “House District 317 in Chesterburg County,” Gervais has obtained an exclusive look at the pledge.

Here are some of the key provisions:

Spending: Gourmet coffee served at State House to be secretly replaced with Folgers Crystals
Bureaucracy: Mandatory use of “ghost men” on base paths during agency softball games

Restructuring: Comptroller General will report directly to executive branch of whichever state he has driven his publicly owned minivan

Government Efficiency: Streamline cumbersome Budget “and” Control Board into more efficient Budget “&” Control Board

Checks and Balances: Saying “G’day Guvnah” in funny British accent will be jailable offense

Crime and Punishment: First-time criminal defendants get three chances to “roll doubles” and avoid jail time

Judiciary: When liberal, activist judges legislate from the bench, confiscate bench for 60 days

Education: Fully fund public schools, but only if Air Force has a bake sale to build a bomber

Workers Compensation: Avoid saying that workers comp premiums cost “an arm and a leg” in vicinity of workers who have actually lost arms or legs

Ethics: Lawmakers may only apply pine tar to first 18 inches of the mace of the House of Representatives

As you can see, it’s a pretty good pledge. Like the media, I gave it all the consideration it was due. But ultimately, Gervais didn’t sign it.

At the end of the day I only have one pledge, and that’s to do my best for the people of Chesterburg County.

Never about vouchers

2008-06-03T00:01:00.003-04:00

The folks over at Take Back SC are doing a good job keeping up with voucher group SCRG's various mailpieces as they ooze into mailboxes around the state. The latest one assails a lawmaker for his "failure to protest" a vote.

Seriously, postal workers need to wear gloves when handling this stuff.

These SCRG hit-pieces have covered every topic from gays to gasoline, from prophylactics to poetry, and from marijuana to Mark Foley.

In fact, there's only one issue SCRG goes to great lengths to avoid mentioning when attacking a candidate.

SCRG in the news

2008-06-02T00:02:00.000-04:00

It’s been a rough week for those among us shilling for libertarian millionaire Howard Rich:

5/28 Aiken Standard: SCRG is a pro-voucher organization that wants to stack the Legislature with others of a like mind. It targets those who have a record of being in favor of public money going to public schools only. And rather than merely supporting candidates it likes, SCRG uses scurrilous negative advertising in an effort to scuttle the campaigns of those it is against.

5/28 Anderson Independent-Mail: In a recorded telephone message received at Pickens County households on Tuesday, [Rep. B.R.] Skelton said that the statements in the mailers are an “absolute lie” and that South Carolinians for Responsible Government is “a shell group set up to ruin our educational system in South Carolina.”

Skelton said in the message that, “This group is financed by Howard Rich, a New York millionaire, and is not a South Carolina group at all.” The closing to the message was Skelton saying “My vote is not for sale.”

5/29 Seneca Daily Journal: Outside interests continue to hold significant sway in Rumsey’s campaign, as $3,000 of his contributions come from purported Howard Rich connections in New York City. … Rich is known for funneling money through obscure LLCs, a tactic used to circumvent South Carolina’s contribution laws that restrict contributions to $3,500 for statewide offices and $1,000 for local offices.

6/2 The State: “I call them political terrorists,” said state Rep. Gene Pinson, R-Greenwood. “They’re outside of the state, trying to do a hostile takeover of state government. I like for South Carolinians to run South Carolina.”

Gervais says, if the Palmetto State's fourth estate keeps peelin' the onion on the out-of-state voucher lobby, I might have to give out some pulled-pork Pulitzers.

10,000 Lakes and one bozo

2008-06-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

Joshua "public education is welfare" Gross reports that he will attend the Republican National Convention in Minnesota this September as an alternate. Gervais says, I can think of no one better to represent real South Carolina values than Joshua.

And by "represent real South Carolina values," I mean that he recently learned how to pronounce "Horry."

Separation of Church and Plate?

2008-05-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

From the editorial page of today's Anderson Independent-Mail:

"A state’s license plate, if legislated for the whole, should reflect something all of its citizens can endorse, and not exclude those of other faiths or views."

And from today's column from The State's Cindi Scoppe:

"The Legislature isn’t establishing a state religion when it allows anyone who can get 400 people to order a special new type of license tag to have one made; but there’s good reason to think the courts might say it’s doing so when it passes a special bill for the Christian tag."

Gervais says, my only contribution to this debate is a graven image of Michael Landon. Which, if I can find 399 other like-minded Sandlappers, might be on the back of my truck pretty soon.

More voucher cash rolls into SC

2008-05-28T00:07:00.007-04:00

Gervais will keep you updated on this post below as Howard Rich's South Carolinians for Responsible Government bundles his money and sends it into races around our state.

Here's the latest:

Deborah Long, House 45
5/19 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/18 $1,000 123 LaSalle Associates (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/18 $1,000 Alan J. Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave., NYC)

UPDATE: Sources tell Barbecue & Politics that this is not the first time SCRG president Randy Page has funneled thousands of dollars to someone named Debbie.

A little perspective

2008-05-27T00:02:00.002-04:00

When assessing how much out-of-state money NYC millionaire Howard Rich’s voucher group South Carolinians for Responsible Government funnels into our state’s political campaigns, it’s useful to compare the numbers with those of other politicians.

So, I did just that. I took a few of the members of SCRG’s slate of State House candidates and compared their percentages of New York City funding, thus far in 2008, to other randomly selected politicians. Here's how it came out:

SCRG candidate Joey Millwood: 72% of funding from NYC.
Politician Micah Kellner: 69% of funding from NYC.

SCRG candidate Ed Rumsey: 36% of funding from NYC.
Politician Dick Gottfried: 25% funding from NYC.

SCRG candidate Kyle Boyd: 14.6% funding from NYC.
Politician Daniel J. O’Donnell: 14.3% of funding from NYC.

As you can see, every one of these South Carolina voucher candidates received a higher percentage Big Apple money than his counterpart.

Which isn’t really a big deal, except that all of the "randomly selected” politicians are actually New York state lawmakers … whose districts are entirely in New York City.

Big May for Howard Rich & Friends (UPDATED)

2008-05-27T00:01:00.008-04:00

Many of the pre-election campaign finance disclosures for the June 10th primaries are in, and it looks like Howard Rich's South Carolinians for Responsible Government spent the month of May doing what it does best: funneling out-of-state voucher cash into local political contests around our state.

Once again, the New York libertarian is poised to be the single biggest special interest in South Carolina, through the myriad business entities he uses to bypass our contribution limits. And remember, historically about half the out-of-state cash from Howie and friends comes in during the "blind spot," the couple of weeks between the pre-election disclosure and the actual election.

Anyway, here's the 2008 totals so far.

Kyle Boyd, House 48
5/12 $1,000 LaSalle Associates (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/12 $1,000 LaSalle Associates (73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC)

Joseph Bustos, House 112
5/13 $1,000 123 LaSalle Assoc. (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/08 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/13 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave. NYC)

Mike Fair, Senate 6
5/23 $1,000 123 Lasalle Associates (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/23 $1,000 Alan J. Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave. NYC)
5/23 $1,000 Yvonne Rich (2111 West Rd Mtn Home, AR)

Sheri Few, House 79
4/29 $1,000 123 Lasalle Assoc. (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
4/29 $1,000 123 Lasalle Inc (73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC)
3/04 $1,000 188 Claremont LLC (73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC)
3/04 $1,000 332 E 11 LLC (73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC)
3/04 $1,000 Bradford Management (73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC)
2/28 $1,000 Joseph Stilwell (26 Broadway, 23rd Floor NYC)
2/28 $1,000 John Kirtley (339 S. Plant Ave., Tampa, FL)

Heyward Hutson, House 94
5/16 $1,000 123 Lasalle Associates (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/16 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/16 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 5th Ave NYC)
5/16 $1,000 Yvonne Rich (2111 West Rd 1 Mtn. Home, AR)

Bob Leach, House 21
3/14 $1,000 332 E 11 LLC (73 Spring St. Rm. 507 NYC)
3/14 $1,000 188 Claremont LLC (73 Spring St. Rm. 408 NYC)
3/14 $1,000 Joseph D. Stilwell (26 Broadway 23rd Flr. NYC)
3/14 $1,000 Yvonne Rich (211 West Road 1 Mtn Home, AR)
3/14 $1,000 John Kirtley (339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL)

Deborah Long, House 45
5/19 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/18 $1,000 123 LaSalle Associates (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/18 $1,000 Alan J. Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave., NYC)

Joe Mahaffey, House 36
2/29 $1,000 322 E 11 LLC (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
2/29 $1,000 538-14 Realty, LLC (73 Springs St. Rm 408 NYC)
2/29 $1,000 Joseph D Stilwell (26 Broadway, 23 Flr. NYC)
2/29 $1,000 John Kirtley (339 S. Plant Ave. Tampa, FL)

Joey Millwood, House 38
5/14 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St NYC)
5/12 $1,000 123 Lasalle Associates (73 Spring St NYC)
5/16 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 5th Ave NYC)

Wendy Nanney, House 22
5/12 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave. NYC)
2/26 $1,000 John Kirtley (339 S Plant Ave. Tampa, FL)
2/13 $1,000 Joseph Stilwell (26 Broadway 23rd Floor NYC)

Roger Nutt, House 35
5/09 $1,000 123 Lasalle Assoc. (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/09 $1,000 123 Lasalle Inc. (73 Spring St. NYC)

Ed Rumsey, House 2
5/12 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/12 $1,000 LaSalle Assoc. (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/12 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 5th Avenue NYC)

Tim Scott, House 117
5/14 $1,000 123 Lasalle Inc (73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC)
5/14 $1,000 123 Lasalle Assoc. (73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC)
5/21 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave. NYC)

Katrina Shealy, Senate 23
5/06 $1,000 123 LaSalle Associates (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/06 $1,000 Bradford Mgmt of NY (73 Spring St. NYC)
5/15 $1,000 Joe A. Pence (424 Flinthill Place Mtn Home, AR)
5/15 $1,000 Eric S. O’Keefe (5367 Highway C Spring Green, WI)

Tommy Stringer, House 18
5/07 $1,000 123 Lasalle Inc (73 Spring St. Rm 408 NYC)
5/07 $1,000 123 Lasalle Associates (73 Spring St. Rm 507 NYC)
5/19 $1,000 Alan Pomerantz (767 Fifth Ave. NYC)

Trey Whitehurst, House 3
5/02 $1,000 123 Lasalle Inc (73 Spring St Rm 408 NYC)
4/30 $1,000 123 Lasalle Assoc. (73 Spring St Rm 507 NYC)

Notes:

1. Rep. Joe Mahaffey announced he was dropping out of his race the same night he received his $4,000 bundle from SCRG.

2. 73 Spring Street, NYC is the address of Howard Rich.

3. Joseph Stilwell of New York is a director of Rich’s “U.S. Term Limits.”

4. Yvonne Rich of Arkansas was a co-director of Rich's “Colorado At Its Best.”

5. Joe A. “Skip” Pence appears to be the spouse of Yvonne Rich.

6. Eric O'Keefe was a director of Rich's "Legislative Education Action Drive."

7. John Kirtley of Tampa is chairman of a national voucher group with ties to Amway and Wal-Mart.

This morning...

2008-05-26T15:42:00.004-04:00

... I sensed a strange disturbance in the Blogosphere...

Happy Memorial Day

2008-05-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

"But in spite of all the other towns in America that claim to be the site of the first Memorial Day (all claiming spring, 1866), African Americans and Charleston deserve pride of place."

-Prof. David Blight, Yale University
From The Post & Courier

Pictured: Charleston Race Course, site of what some historians consider to be the first Memorial Day celebration.

Gullick not gullible

2008-05-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

SCRG's recruited voucher candidates are pretty good at saying they aren't in favor of vouchers, but like most of us, Rep. Carl Gullick (R- York) doesn't have any trouble seeing through the "BS barrage" of libertarian Howard Rich & Company.

From the Rock Hill Herald:

Gullick went on to add that tax credits are "like a voucher for morons" and that the reason candidates avoid using the term "vouchers" is because it doesn't poll as well as saying "tax credits."

School vouchers add sizzle to S.C. House race, 5/22/08

Will Folks blasts Scott Talley

2008-05-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

Lawmaker, state Senate candidate, and father Scott Talley (R-Spartanburg) may have thought he was safe running a commercial featuring himself reading books to the two adorable little kids pictured to the right.

But he was so, so wrong.

That’s because Talley didn’t count on Will Folks (CDV-Columbia) exposing the fact that on some nights in 2006 these kids were, by Folks’ estimation, probably NOT read to by Talley.

That’s right. Former Sanford spokesman, crack investigator, and domestic violence criminal Will Folks has looked at records of legislative receptions and has propounded the theory that in 2006 there were nights in which the words “I do not like them, Sam I Am” never even crossed Talley’s lips.

In a post called “Aw…So…Cute” Will Folks writes, “there’s no way Talley made it home in time to put the little rugrats to bed those 29 nights.”

Zing!

I, for one, will stay tuned as Seuss-gate unfolds. When a tough guy like Will Folks blogs about someone’s kids, it’s important to listen to what he has to say.

New website exposes Howard Rich’s agenda for SC’s primaries

2008-05-21T00:02:00.003-04:00

New York millionaire Howard Rich is pretty crafty. This primary season, if you haven’t noticed, Rich seems to be running several campaigns almost entirely from the accounts of his SC front group, South Carolinians for Responsible Government.

It’s a pretty good plan: most if not all of any given voucher candidate's mail pieces and phone calls actually come from Howard Rich's SCRG.

That way, bloggers like myself can’t point out that Candidate X received 99% of her funds from the out-of-state voucher lobby, or that Candidate Y received 99% of his campaign funds from the out-of-state voucher lobby, or that there is an actual sitting legislator who got 84% of his funds from the out-of-state voucher lobby.

Instead, these voucher candidates have access to the millions of dollars in SCRG’s operating account (SCRG received $3 million in 2006 alone) yet don’t have to disclose one red cent of it to SC voters. SCRG has a lawyer ready to sue if we pesky SC voters even dare to ask.

It’s pretty ingenuous, but Howard Rich didn’t count on actual Sandlappers being even ingenious-er. Fortunately for those of us who don't want SC’s political process hijacked by out-of-state anti-school ideologues, the good folks at TakeSCBack.com are all over Howie like hash on rice.

Something tells me this new site is going to get a lot of visitors between now and June 10th.

Upstate lawmaker pours Howard Rich a big glass of Get Lost

2008-05-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

Rep. Bill Sandifer:

“I had someone from the SCRG tell me that if I agreed to support their school voucher program that they would not support anyone running against me. I always refuse that kind of thing … This is not about serving in the office. It is about taking me out of office.”

Anderson Independent-Mail 5/19/08

Gullick's opponent not a big voter

2008-05-18T00:01:00.003-04:00

One of these two people has definitely voted since 2004.

The other one is the voucher candidate recruited to run against Republican lawmaker Carl Gullick of York County.

From the Rock Hill Herald:

“[Sanford]'s not being supported like he should," Boyd said Thursday night. "I'm a true conservative Republican."

Boyd hasn't voted in an election since 2004, county and state records show. Sanford has appeared on two ballots in that time, a Republican primary and general election in 2006. Sanford won both contests.

Asked Friday about his absences, Boyd said: "That's a good question. I wasn't able to get away from school, that's all."

A short time later, Boyd re-contacted The Herald to say his recollection had changed and that he did vote in 2006. He declined to elaborate.

Oh, brother. I don't even know where to start. But here are three thoughts:

1. There should be a law where, if you're going to be working out of state, you can vote early, perhaps by mail, even though you are "absent" on the actual day of the election. Call me a hopeless dreamer.

2. SCRG's patented "fog this mirror" test for recruiting candidates is working very well.

3. Remind me to never, ever, ever try to pull one over on the reporters for the Rock Hill Herald.

Possible lead in Lizard Man mystery

2008-05-16T00:02:00.000-04:00

From the Sumter Item: DNA debunks Lizard Man attack: Test indicates dog responsible for recent incident with family's van

Sanford swipes at Ceips

2008-05-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

From the Beaufort Gazette: Sanford jabs Ceips for abstention, office denies campaign shenanigans

Pictured: Sanford snacks after endorsing against Sen. Catherine Ceips last year.

Purple senator blogs out!

2008-05-15T00:01:00.003-04:00

Kevin Bryant wants to end the PACT real real real bad, but apparently doesn’t want to have to vote on it.

In case you have an aversion to purple people or for some other reason do not visit Anderson senator Kevin Bryant’s blog, you’re missing his “open letter” to Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. I believe Dr. Rex actually responded to Bryant’s blog, but his response was deleted.

Anyway, Bryant begs for an end to the PACT (but not requiring his vote) on his blog, which I suggest you read for yourself.

All of this leads me to three observations:

1. Barney the dinosaur called and he wants his complexion back! Zing!

2. Nothing says "I'm not playing politics with the PACT" like an open letter posted on your blog. To lend even more gravitas to such a letter, paint yourself purple.

3. "Something" tells me if Howard Rich candidate Karen Floyd had won the 2006 Supt. of Education election, we wouldn't be seeing such gamesmanship from Bryant. But it's hard to say what that "something" is. Also, Kevin Bryant is apparently purple.

Southern Pig BBQ: Heaven off I-77

2008-05-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

Gervais and the family - Mama, Hannah Jane, Petunia, and Gervais Jr. - recently tried a new 'cue joint out in Blythewood called Southern Pig BBQ.

I say "new," but Southern Pig has been around for a few years. It just recently has been bought back by its original owners, who know a thing or two about settin' out a good Southern buffet, having learned the trade under the wings of Ray Lever's BBQ and Oak Grove Barbecue.

In addition to the tangy, mustard-infused pulled pork, Southern Pig features a nice beef hash and a solid showing of the fixin's you'd expect: collards, green beans, corn on the cob, mac & cheese, cole slaw, etc. The buffet also has some items you don't often find on the buffet table, like navy beans, ribs, new potatoes, and chicken wings.

By far, the best item on the buffet was the fried chicken. It might be the best fried chicken you'll ever taste. In the wrong hands, Southern Pig's tasty fried chicken could spell the end of democracy as we know it. In the right hands, its crispy succulence could be the key to lasting peace in the Middle East.

Southern Pig is open for lunch and dinner every day but Monday, and even offers a breakfast buffet on Saturday. The buffet price is a little high for adults ($9.50) but is offset if you bring the ankle-biters, who eat for a buck apiece.

Gervais says, next time you find yourself on that stretch of blacktop between Columbia and Charlotte, stop in to Southern Pig for a great barbecue buffet. Right off exit 27, in the IGA shopping center.

Conservation Voters endorsements today

2008-05-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

See the full list of endorsements over at SC Politics Today.

Based on a random sample, it seems to help if you have a "conservationist" last name.

SCRG & Sanford target Upstate GOP lawmaker

2008-05-12T10:41:00.008-04:00

District 2 Republican Bill Sandifer has become the first House candidate (I'm aware of) to be targeted by Gov. Mark Sanford this primary season.

Last month, Sandifer was the target of negative push-polling paid for by Howard Rich's voucher group "South Carolinians for Responsible Government," according to the Daily Messenger.

This month, Sanford himself is apparently taking a long Monday lunch to campaign against the GOP lawmaker.

All of this brings Gervais to a few observations:

1. The last time SCRG got involved in Oconee County politics, they lost big time. Unless victory means having your candidate found passed out drunk in a Domino's Pizza drive-thru with cocaine, in which case they won big time.

2. Chad Connelly's Sandlapper Consulting is running the campaign of Sandifer's opponent, Ed Rumsey. According to the most recent tax information, Connelly is also a $63,250-a-year director of SCRG. (pdf). We're going to have to take a good "Barbecue & Politics" look at this Connelly fellow.

3. Some people's heads are just too fat to fit in a standard thumbnail-sized window. That's not an insult, it's a medical fact.

Snuffing out progress

2008-05-09T00:01:00.001-04:00

Greenville News: Gov. Sanford threatens to veto cigarette tax increase.