Have you ever watched one of the renovation shows on HGTV or DIY Network? I can be a bit of a numbers junkie, so one of the elements of those shows that I really enjoy is to see the breakdown of their budget, and, ultimately, if they come in under, on, over budget with their… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Campaign Finance
Dead Politicians and the Money They Leave Behind
The Times-Picayune website, NOLA.com, has a great article on political campaign accounts that are going on well after their politician has died. Not sure what the laws on this kind of thing are state by state, but at least in Louisiana, the good times keep going on ever after your dead. To be fair, the… Continue Reading
Today in Breaking Campaign Finance Laws (& Going to Jail) News
Who says breaking campaign finance laws and laundering money only has to be the domain of guys in Congress or higher? The little guys can get in on the action too! A story out of Fairfield, Ohio says that a local businessman was in cahoots with a former School Board member to funnel $25,000 to… Continue Reading
Burbank, CA Accountant Accused of Stealing from Politicians’ Campaign Funds
Last week we posted a story about a direct mail vendor who printed the wrong indicia and return address on a piece of mail, sending everyone involved in the race into a tizzy. It was a seemingly honest mistake–definitely nothing criminal–but it underscored the notion that you can probably trust your direct mail vendors only… Continue Reading
Used Campaign Signs…In-Kind Contribution?
A City Council candidate in Washington State had a crafty and frugal idea–get hundreds of used campaign signs from a fellow politician and re-purpose them for her campaign. It’s doubtful she would have anticipated that her opponent is questioning whether she is breaking campaign finance rules for not paying fair market value for the signs.… Continue Reading
Young Council Candidate Raises $0 for Campaign, Gets Fined $600
In a lesson for everyone to file your campaign finance reports on time, 25-year old Overland Park, Kansas City Council Candidate Jim Lundquist was fined $600 (reduced from over $1,000) for two late reports. Not a totally uncommon occurance, but notable when the two reports included the fact that Lundquist raised zero dollars and spent zero… Continue Reading
Makeover TV Show Butts Into Canadian Election Politics
What if your opponent were a contestant on a makeover TV show like TLC’s ‘What Not to Wear’? In the middle of the election. What if it was as a contestant on the long since cancelled freak show known as ‘Extreme Makover’? Seems like it would bode well for you, since it implies your opponent… Continue Reading