Campaign Finance Reports
In case you haven't surfed on over to the Supervisor of Elections website in the past few days, the newest batch of campaign financial figures for Clay County's elected officials and wanna-be's have been posted. I made my first appearance on the list of candidates, right there in the middle of the Republican candidates for the District 3 seat on the County Commission. If you're interested in my particular stats, I can save you a couple of minutes. I have had $1,000 in contributions. Except for $100 donated by Bob Cook, a retired FBI agent who has been a great family friend since we all first moved to the area in the summer of '59, the rest of the money came from me. Less than a hundred has been spent so far, on office things and some copying of petitions to qualify me for the ballot. It didn't take me long to file my first report. Comparing that number to my two opponents can be a schizophrenic experience. I've got more than twice as much money as one opponent, Debbie Terry. But the third person in the race, Orange Park Town Councilman and former chairman of the Charter Review Commission Travis Cummings has collected more than $36,000. Thirty-six thousand already, and we've still got two-thirds of a year before we're gonna vote. Of course, there are some reasons for that rather, um, large discrepency in totals. I'm pretty sure the fact that I haven't asked anyone for financial contributions explains a little about my meager total. And, of course, there's that other reason. The one that got me thinking about applying for this County Commissioner job in the first place. I think Clay County government would better serve its citizens (and itself) if the Board of County Commissioners wasn't filled with people who have been financed to the max by the same ol' poorly-visioned group of lobbyist-bundled, build-it-fast donors that has been financing local elections for awhile now. Since the Growth Industry changed the dress code of political powerbrokers to coats and ties from the Good Ol' Boys blue jeans and boots, the County Commission has rarely offered more than lip service to opposing any plans to construct new roofs in Clay County. So, I thought, I'd offer voters in District 3 a choice. A candidate who has a perspective different from that of candidates who have obviously been vetted and approved by the Growth Industry - someone who neither sought nor accepted contributions from those who financed the big-money candidates. Let my opponents chase the big campaign dolIars, I would be a candidate who would remember the everyday folks once in he got in office, not just consider them sources of tax revenue that occasionally have to be appeased with some political feel-good legislation. That loud noise you may have heard last week was campaign reality slapping me squarely across the face as I looked at the Supervisor of Elections' website. In my education as a candidate, it was like the graduation rite for Campaign 101. Here's what I've learned in my first two months as a candidate:
1. The nicest and most helpful people in Clay County just might be employed at the Supervisor of Elections Office. I have yet to have any contact with them that didn't answer whatever questions I've had - and impressed me with everyone's attitude. 2. My feet are gonna hurt really, really bad by Election Day. 3. There are some very smart people in District 3 who feel like the County Commission doesn't pay attention to them. 4. Everyone - 5. My pre-conceived ideas about financing a County Commission campaign were pretty freakin' idealistic, and I have to explain to folks why I'm gonna have to pull a huge about-face, total flip-flop, complete reversal of something I said earlier. Since no one really cares about how Ms. Kirkman's staff treats candidates, or how bad my feet are gonna feel months from now, I'll get down to explaining why my idea of capping donations to my campaign at $100, instead of the legally-allowable $500 maximum, is going to have to be filed under "I wish I could." Let me tell you about a meeting I had with four folks last week. We talked about politics and they wanted to make sure that I wasn't someone who was just going to pay lip service to quality of life issues as a member of the County Commission. They wanted to know that I really felt like some issues should be decided on something other than the economic bottom line. And when I told them I would not accept campaign contributions of more than $100 per person or business, they looked at me like I was someone who obviously hadn't been trained in the art of campaigning. Or stupid, I'm not quite sure. They posed a simple question they asked me to think about for a few days. "If you can walk out of here with $400 in donations or $2,000 in donations, which will help you get your message out?" I was pondering that question when I surfed onto the newly-posted campaign finance numbers. SLAP! So here's my flip-flop. I'm still not going to accept money from outside of Clay County, except for perhaps a personal friend or family member. I'm still not going to ask people for money, merely tell them what I believe in and leave the decision to donate up to them. But I can't limit everyone to $100 or less no matter how much I'd like to. Not when I'm already behind, $36,000 to $1,000, and I've discovered campaigning just ain't as cheap as what I thought I could make it. I guess I've graduated from Campaign 202 now. Michael S. Mann
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Submitted by lilyslore on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 6:58pm.
As all of you well know I have nothing but contempt and disdain for career government employees. To illustrate how cretinous a state body can be, here is an article from my former hometown newspaper. This is what happens when government employees are allowed to believe they know what they are doing. One Mann, please try to avoid this kind of stupidity should you actually get elected. http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/NEWS01/801140346&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman
Submitted by OneMann on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 7:10pm.
You know, clueless, a good friend of mine called and made a crack about me saying something about the folks at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Said it sounded like pandering. Well, I can't help what it sounds like. The truth is, I have come away from every contact with that office impressed with the people working there. Just one of the things I wouldn't know if I hadn't jumped into the campaign. Ain't working any babies along rope lines, though. Besides the fact that I can't foresee the Sheriff's Office having to rope off throngs of people for my protection, one of the other things of graduated from in life is the requirement to place my lips on the snot-encrusted faces of little people. That occurred about the time my son learned what a Kleenex was invented to do. As far as changing my stand on the money, yep, you're right. Sounds very politicianist, even to me. That's why I hated doing it. But at least when I changed my mind, I announced and explained the decision. At least that part doesn't make me sound like a politician. There'll will be other installments on the education of this candidate as time goes by. I'm still learning new stuff all the time, and don't mind letting folks in on the secrets of politics and government. Michael S. Mann Submitted by cluelessinclay on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 9:27pm.
Having an explanation for your change in financial heart doesn't make it ANY less political. Ask Mitt about his change of heart on abortion. In liberal MA it was one way, now courting the evangelicals it's another way. Explanations don't make the fact that you have already made a "course correction" about money any less political. I am not saying it's bad or good. But you are fitting in with the political landscape quite nicely. And may all of the political things you do be as easily solved as a snotty nose and kleenex. Wait till you have to make financial disclosures and wait till people that have an ax to grind start poking around in your personal life, and wait till you are put on the carpet in a forum. I attended one of the 2004 debates and two of the races were disgusting. It made my stomach churn. I wonder what it does to a candidate and their family when all their purported dirty laundry comes out, Just in the recent past, a Sheriff's candidate had his kids STUPID actions run through this blog site. Hope you have a strong constitution and a squeaky clean past. It is going to be a long nasty, rough road till November. Good Luck!
Submitted by islander on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 9:34pm.
By islander - Mon, 01/14/2008 - 8:30pm I am sick and tired of the same old blogs on MCS. You guys must be too pompous to realize we have real issues in the good old USA. We are in the middle of a protracted long, and unvictorious war in Iraq. We have lost too many good men for what? Geez, who knows. While you guys whine away about taxes, Clay county and CTLAC, we are in the middle of a who knows what kind of economic hiccup. Wake up Clay. Look beyond your manicured golf course backyards. Pay attention to what is going on in the world. The American Eagle (dollar) is worthless. What if the Chinese decide to cash in? What about the Euro, a stale, but obviously strong currency!!! If we don't wake up in America, and take our own pulse, we soon shall be dead! The election is a sham, the candidates are a joke! Who cares if you vote Democratic or Republican, they all say the same things! GEEZ! All I hear is the whining and moaning of Clay county people who are much too affluent, to have even a clue as to how middle America is fighting higher prices. You guys are sick! You worry if animals are being treated well, while our children are dying. You complain that traffic is bad while Americans go to bed hungry! Get a life! Here in Clay we are so far removed from reality it is sickening. Get a grip, and complain about something that is worthwhile! Quit your bellyachin' about how much tax you pay, you live int he greatest country in the world. Get Real, get a grip, and move your @ss. Here I remain, on the island, and I don't even play stinkin' golf. PS - by the way, you bloggers make me sick!!!!!! phoneys, all of you! The ISLANDER! Submitted by margo on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 10:07pm.
I think OneMann's journey on the campaign fundraising issue demonstrates the old adage about walking in another man's shoes. Now that OneMann is walking as a candidate, I can almost hear him saying ". . . so that's why they do that" or "you don't understand, we're just regular folk trying to do a good job." The fact is that it's easy to criticize others for sport. Maybe if OneMann had not gone through the process even this far we would have seen blogs about people who receive $500 donations. The fact is that is easy to blog and criticize others for sport. When I grew up, my father was an elected official in my small town and I witnessed it. A funny thing happens though when someone steps up and actually engages the process - they usually come out a lot more tolerant. My grandmother used to say that the best way to quiet a squeaky wheel is to give it a job. The simple reason is that you are forced to see things from another perspective. You don't have the luxury of picking and choosing your battles. You are in every battle, every time. You can't stand alone and cry that the sky is falling. That's not leadership. That's complaining. So OneMann, I appreciate your honesty and wish you well on your endeavor. I hope your glasses are clean because I think you'll see lots of different perspectives. Lastly, Islander - strangely, I found your post refreshing. It kind of reminded me of the discussion last night when Angela talked about 9/11 and the garbage fiasco. I agree . . . get a grip.
Submitted by cluelessinclay on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 10:32pm.
Geez right back at 'cha. If some of us are here to discuss our little corner of the world or things that are important to us locally--that makes us phony? Don't assume. I have NEVER played golf (a pseudo sport in my opinion) My backyard is barely managed, not manicured and I think people like Maxie who take the bull by the horns in their own neighborhood (a be a volunteer crossing guard) are affecting change, Am I worried about the war--you bet. Did tears roll down my cheeks when we had a farewell for a neighbor who is going back to Afganistan AGAIN, you bet. Do I wonder why and what we are there for--you bet. Does the thought of a recession scare the beejeebees out of me-you bet. Do I think there is room for all of these things at MCS--you bet. How about making some room for some tolerance of the subjects that interest the bloggers here....or make some time to find another blog to spend some time on the more global things if MCS makes you sick. Do I remember you to be the blogger that made me howl with your neighbor stories? If so, why the desperate, serious turn?
Submitted by OneMann on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 10:44pm.
Clueless, my reason behind the change in campaign strategy for me is completely political, and a recognition that my hope to put a limit on myself is realistic in today's campaign world. But I'd hardly compare it to Mitt Romney. First of all, I'm not saying one thing to one group of people and the opposite to another in order to engender voter support. I've told the truth to everyone I can, regardless of where they live or who they support. I'll have to deal with the consequences of changing my mind on this issue. If there are others like you who think it makes me just another politician because I changed my mind about something, then I may get their support come election time. But do you really think that my retreating from a self-imposed limit of just 20 percent of the maximum legal campaign contributions should be compared to something as serious as switching positions on abortion? That's even more cynical than I am. My constitution is strong enough to handle what's thrown my way, but that doesn't mean I have to like it all. I certainly don't agree with the kind of politics that brings the child of a candidate, sheriff or anything else, into the campaign arena. Margo, I'm discovering that never having been part of an actual campaign, which would have been a professional conflict of interest for me, has put me at a disadvantage. I imagine I'll remain at a disadvantage, running against an experienced politician like Travis. And, Islander, are you gonna copy and paste your blog as a response to everyone else's contributions to make sure nobody here on MCS misses it? Personally, I found what you wrote quite boring. Guess it's a matter of taste, huh? Try contributing something yourself that isn't boring. But when you miss the mark, maybe readers will be a little more forgiving than you. Michael S. Mann Submitted by margo on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 11:15pm.
OneMann, I did not mean to imply that you are disadvantaged in your race or that you had faltered. Quite the opposite, I commend you for putting yourself out on the line. From what I hear from you, you have fresh ideas and are willing to share and defend them. My point was simply that life always looks easier, cleaner and neater from the outside. Kind of like the instruction book that makes it look easy until you start assembling the do-dad and find yourself with 12 bolts left over. Obviously, there are lots of characteristics of great leaders and maybe I'll have the opportunity to learn more about you this year.
Submitted by Marsha on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 8:28am.
I believe a $500 cap on donations to a political campaign is very reasonable, it's a fortune if you're trying to keep food on the table but in facilitating getting you and your message out there it's not alot of money. If I remember correctly you were counseled that your $100 limit while admirable was unrealistic about the time you decided to run. I don't believe speaking a kind word about someone or giving them a pat on the back is ever out of line. It's a blessing to both when someone is given a kind recognition. There is a fine line to walk between holding anyone in Public Office accountable and using them for target practice. Take for example Islander, it takes little imagination and intellect to come onto a blog and collectively trash everyone. This is what some and/or all of us do some and/or all the time. In the passion of the moment, and because it is so easy too often we let it become personal and it shouldn't be. Take John Thrasher, I don't know the man, wouldn't recognize him if I met him on the street. There are things he has done that I don't like but I would never attack his character. He obviously knows the system very well and knows how to utilize it to accomplish his goal. It's easy to attack the man, when it should be the system that allows the things they do that needs our attention. It's one thing to criticize a collective body or office holder but it still doesn't have to be made personal. Sometimes people have to back up and rethink and Mike that is what you had to do in this case, the only thing it makes you is human. I believe you have all the elements of a Great Commissioner, if even only for a short while because I know this is not a Career move for you but simply a desire to make some changes in direction and/or acceleration within the county. There will always be people like Islander who are just mad at the world and spit venom regardless of what you do. You could cure cancer and there would be some cynical bitter person out there condenming you over some sliver of an aspect of it because that is what cynical, bitter people do. As for your feet, you should have asked Santa for a foot soaker! Don't forget the Dr Scholls and then you can be gellin!
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One Mann--you are starting to sound just like a politician--changing your stand on money, and saying how smart, nice, and helpful folks are--is the next step kissing babies along the rope line??? I can't wait for you to write about your next educational installment! The Making of a
PresidentCommissioner19682008!