BY DAVE PARRO
Back in June, this blog argued for a local law that mirrors an Illinois pay-to-play bill that would forbid businesses with large state contracts from making campaign contributions to officeholders awarding the contracts. Aurora Alderman Rick Lawrence this week started pushing for one.
Lawrence is responding to the hiring of attorney Phillip A. Luetkehans as the city's choice to review the Planned Parenthood clinic approval process because Luetkehans donated $250 to Alderman Richard Irvin's failed 2005 mayoral campaign, and Irvin played a key role in selecting Luetkehans. But such an ordinance would have far broader implications, particularly for Mayor Tom Weisner.
As outlined in the June post, Weisner has accepted thousands of dollars from businesses that eventually landed hefty city contracts.
Weisner's comment last week that he is "disappointed to find out now that there is a connection between Mr. Luetkehans and Alderman Irvin" is hypocritical. To cite a few examples, Weisner has accepted donations from these businesses that have received city contracts since he took office:
- Cordogan Clark and Associates ($8,104): 11/16/04, 7/21/04, 10/4/03, 3/17/05, 3/31/05, 2/16/05, 10/1/05, 9/17/06
- Engineering Enterprises ($5,160): 7/7/03, 10/19/03, 9/7/04, 11/18/04, 3/24/05, 2/15/05, 7/24/05, 6/8/06, 10/1/06, 10/1/06
- Walter E. Deuchler Associates ($1,400): 7/12/05, 6/4/06
- R.C. Wegman Construction ($415): 11/3/04, 3/14/05
Lawrence is right that this is a problem. Unfortunately, the state bill has stalled, and there's a good chance that a similar local ordinance won't go anywhere, either. Maybe the Irvin gaffe, which seems innocent enough, will be the impetus for change. It's just ironic that such a relatively small donation ends up drawing attention to the issue when Weisner has been doing this for years.
Ah to be young and naive like Dave Parro. First, isn't it true that all the firms above were doing business with the city long before Weisner came into office?
Are you suggesting that only the wealthly should be able to run for public office? Or maybe you think taxpayers should also foot the bill for elections? Or are you suggesting that elected officials should fundraise from large interest groups from outside of the city, rather than getting support from local business and residents?
Since governments make laws that impact businesses, don't businesses have a constitutional right to support candidates? Are you suggesting that they forfiet their business to participate in the political process?
Seriously, Dave - defend your position. Just how do you suppose elections - local or otherwise should be funded?
I almost died laughing when I say the mayor's comments. It would be nice if this little dose of hypocracy made it into the actual paper.
As for the previous commentor, there is a difference between those who operate in the city and those who do business with it.
OneMan
RESPONSE FROM DAVE PARRO:
The state bill would forbid businesses with large contracts from contributing to the officeholders involved in awarding the contract. That doesn't preclude other businesses from making donations, and it doesn't even preclude businesses that hold smaller contracts from donating. I would support a contract threshold at the local level as well.
Secondly, the bill also requires that businesses seeking contracts of a smaller threshold disclose all their political contributions at the time of their bid. This is a no-brainer.
As far as funding elections go, Weisner has raised more than $500,000 since 2003. I pointed out about $15,000 in contributions. I don't think a viable candidate who has support in the community is going to have a hard time raising money from residents and businesses that do not hold large city contracts.
Don't forget to state the other contributors, there are a lot of contributions for paybacks (we have to keep in mind that "in kind" donations are still considered a political contribution:
Bigelow Homes for $6,500
Comp Partners (Affiliated with Cordogan & Clark) 960 Ridgeway for $7,500
716 North Wells Partnership (Affiliated with Cordogan & Clark) 8960 Ridgeway for $3,500
930 Ridgeway Partnership, 960 Ridgeway: $1,000
Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (legal council for the City) $5,075
Dan Shomon (who got a nice contract) for $350
Dan Dolan: $2,020
John Birus's Wife, Linda, (who is working with the City for reimbursements) $5,000
Wally Mundy: $400; Mundy Landscaping: $1,500
Chuck Nelson (received a city job) $175
RC Wegman was actually for $3,708.33 ($2,362.18 on 4/23/04; $1,188.90 on 4/23/04 and $157.25 on 4/23/04) -- missed these Dave.
Reuland (who does almost all the catering for the city's events): $1,750
Fred Rodgers (who got a promotion) donated $1,160
The Foundry (who lobbied the City to give them OTB): $1,432.81
Bob Vaughan (whose wife was Weisner's treasurer)got a job: donated 547.49
Dave Hipp: (Who employed Bob Vaughan so he could get the City Job) donated: $200.00