Campaign finance reports show the real difference between candidates

The post-primary election campaign finance reports were due Aug. 30, and a quick look at them illustrates the real differences between the two candidates. Chris Ward has more than $14,000 cash on hand - between his committee and the “Chris Ward Majority Fund,” and Mike McGonegal has $1,995 cash on hand going into the General Election.

Mike is actually meeting and greeting voters and constituents of the 66th District, and Mr. Ward is collecting money from PACs and buying slick mailings and staying away from voters.

Among Mr. Ward’s larger contributions to his campaign committee were $4,325 from the Real Estate Political Action Committee (PAC) and $1,000 from the Michigan RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. PAC. Among the most interesting contributions from an individual was that from the wife of the Executive Editor of the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, Rich Perlberg. Granted, I know the people at the Press & Argus to be dedicated, fair-minded journalists, but it raises the doubt that there appears to be little chance of getting a fair shake there or receiving their endorsement.

Among the most interesting expenditures was for web page design to Republican Michigander Consulting. Some of us here also post and try to debate on the blog ran by Dan Wholihan, a member of the executive committee of the Livingston County Republican Party – if we can handle and stomach the personal attacks – but no where is it disclosed on his blog that he does work for Mr. Ward. We know it’s a partisan site, but we didn’t know he was paid to be partisan.

If you remember the post on this blog called “It was raining candidates at Melonfest” posted Aug. 19 it was interesting to see how much Mr. Ward spent on the cheap, plastic fire hats to hand out to kids during the parade. In the post we took him to task for handing out these cheap hats that had “made in China” stamped inside of them instead of actually showing up himself, like everyone else - from U.S. Rep Mike Rogers and Attorney General Mike Cox to County Commissioners and School Board members - did. We also noted the irony of Ward volunteers handing out fire hats when his irresponsible vote on the SBT will require cuts to local fire departments. The good news is the $868 he spent on the trinkets was spent with a Michigan company in Owosso.

The biggest contributor to the Chris Ward Majority Fund was $5,000 from the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association on July 3, to make $10,000 he has received from them during 2006. That must be in payment for the bill he pushed that would have made Michigan residents only able to order a bottle of wine from a wholesaler. If you want to read more about that scansdal check out our post on July 5 called “Veteran journalist calls out Chris Ward on campaign finance scam.”

The biggest contribution Ward made from the PAC is $12,000 to the House Republican Campaign Committee. Now, to me that’s a lot of money.

To earn his leadership position as Floor Majority Leader he was required to raise lots and lots of money for the party, and he has obviously done that. It’s also very obvious that the leadership position is not based on actual leadership ability, competence or how he represents his constituents.