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No rules for leftover campaign money
Published Friday, June 6, 2008
NATCHEZ — Any campaign contributions not spent by candidates once the election is over can be spent however candidates choose.
Mississippi campaign finance statutes do not outline what to do with extra money.
“There is nothing in state law that prohibits leftover campaign contributions from being used for personal purposes,” according to the Jan Schaefer, the public information officer to the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.
Candidates could do anything with the extra money from using it to run for election again in four years, give it back to the donors or go on vacation with it.
City Clerk Donnie Holloway said after filing a termination report of the campaign finances, candidates are no longer required to submit any more reports.
While the majority of candidates, especially in the alderman race, typically don’t have much cash on hand left after the election, for the mayoral candidates it’s a different story.
For mayor-elect Jake Middleton and candidate Chick Graning remains a big chunk of change.
While both have outstanding bills, which will impact the cash left on hand, Middleton was last reported to have $14,496 left and Graning having $19,520.
Mayor Phillip West, who’s campaigning ended after the first primary on May 6, reported on May 13 to have received $48,582 in contributions and having only disbursed $27,004 of that.
This left him with $21,578 cash on hand before filing a termination report.
Comments
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm...OK, I'm announcing right now, I'm running for something at sometime in the future...anyone want to contribute?...I could use the money to help put my kids through college...LOL.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
surprise surprise surprise..........
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it should go to a charity of the candidates choice. That money was not for them to just blow how they want to anyways. It was to help them win. Preferably a local charity. Thats just my opinion.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 6:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And this is a surprise!? Just the beginning of very convenient rules.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck, that's a downpayment on a house! A brand new car! After this article, we'll never know what these candidates did with the extra money. I say return it. They have records of who gave what. (It's the ethical thing to do anyway).
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gee, wouldn't it be nice if they were required to donate to charity. Just think what that money would do for Humane Society and their CAMPAIGN to get enough money to build a new facility.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Heck yeah, lsumom!!! Great idea. Let's see if they truly have Natchez's best interests at heart. Natchez Demo...please follow up on this! I want to know who has a giving heart out of all those who ran in the election. This will tell the people so much.
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
None of them even had to contribute, from their own pocket!
Posted by chick26gt (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For all of you who are bothered by left over campaign money, mine will be given to charities of my choice. It will be given over time and will be given anonymousely. Since it was given to me, I really have no right to write it off. My charities are my business, but some funds will be set aside for emergency donations. I suspect the other candidates have their own proposed uses for the money, but those uses are their business.
I suggest you folks worry about how to get a decent education for the public school students of Natchez, or be concerned about a budget run rampant. Since others haven't, and probably won't deal with these things, you might well serve our fair city by doing so. Worry about how your tax dollars are being spent.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In that case, why did David Duke get arrested and convicted of gambling with money donated to his campaign back around 2002-2003? I do believe he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Whether or not he actually had to serve time, I don't know. But I remember reading about his arrest and conviction, and perhaps, even in the Democrat.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as no one spends it to go to Swenden to try and drum up Tourism, like our former mayor and a select few did I will be happy. I wonder how much that trip cost and what was the outcome of it. I never heard anything more about them over there yodeling for tourism here. I wonder if anybody in downtown goverment ever followed up on that hunk of waste. Oh well, yodel on! Talk about waste!
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chick...just the reponse I expected from a man of your high character...I doubt we'll see the other candidates so openly give their contributions to charity...but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We all know BUCKET surely will pocket his no doubt about that...Lets see what the NEW mayor will do....Or will he just let this be sweep under the rug and not worry about it??
I hope you will be surprised sammohon...
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my above comment was to the article and not to anyone's comment.
I looked up David Duke's arrest and found that he was arrested for income tax under-reporting; although, he was accused of gambling with donated funds.
I suggest that if any of you keep your donated campaign money, just be sure to claim it as income on your tax return, then if you donate it to charity, you can claim that as a charitable donation on your income tax. It's in the not telling and hiding and "paying no tax" that could get ya.
Posted by Bozo (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You would think somebody at the Democrat would ask the candidates what they intend to do with the money? A perfectly reasonable question.
Posted by shewoman1960 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey chick26gt.... You said it. The money was donated to you by supporters and it's your choice (and business) to what you choosen to do with the remainder of funds. Donate it, set it aside, whatever. If anyone should be concerned what policial candidates do with remaining funds, it should be those who gave it your cause and not people who probably didn't even vote! If there are no rules to follow in this matter, then it's your money to do with as you please. I personally feel that any candidate spends many hours and takes many a step that is not deemed as a reimburseable expense. There will always be those who have something negative to say regardless what you do with the money.
How is it that those who don't contribute think they have a reason to complain? I guess like voting, they don't vote but gripe about who ends up elected!
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