The Powerful Citizens Association - Part III

In yesterday's installment I looked at the finances of the Citizens Association. Specifically how it appears the CA is no more than an intermediary that funnels campaign dollars into the business of one of its board members. Today, in the final installment I'll connect a few more dots. Shine some light in a few more dark corners, and see what scurries out from this poor little grass roots organization, marching in the streets with brooms in hand, demanding integrity and transparency in city government. In Part I a picture was painted of politicians dancing before the king and his court. So.... How does one get to be the king? The one lesson that was driven like a spike into my skull during this last election is he with the most money wins. Period. So lets go back to 2003 again and see who is giving money to the Citizens Association. First there's the usual suspects. Endorsed council candidates providing their reimbursements. Nothing new there. We've been told that's okay so we'll just accept it. Who else is chipping in? Who else is taking a stand for good government, integrity, transparency and an end to influence peddling? 2-18-03 Ameristar Casino $1000.00 Maybe "integrity" means excluding casinos from the smoking ban? 2-18-03 Renaissance Plaza LLC $1,000.00 A northland developer who within a year and a half of the CA Slate being elected will receive a favorable ruling from the Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee and the council for some eminent domain. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. 2-18-03 Heavy Constructors Assn PAC $5,625.00 A PAC to a PAC. Twice the level of money laundering. We don't care what you build (TIF projects), or how you pay for it (TIF & tax abatement), just make sure you use one of our union contributors. 2-18-03 Hallmark Global Services $10,000 3-6-03 Hallmark Global Services $10,000 When you care enough to send the very best they can afford to give the very most. 2-18-03 James Nutter $5,000.00 2-18-03 DLS Real Estate Inc. $5,000.00 Principal Dale Schulte would go on to be involved with several TIF projects including the Chambers Building, Hanover Building and the Finance Building. He was also present at Kay Barnes' so-called Breakfast of Champions. 3-4-03 RECON HISTORIC DEVELOPERS, LLC $5,000.00 SOLO Lofts Developer Now let's jump ahead to 2007. Surely all these civic-minded developers, casinos and PACs will once again pony up for integrity and good government? Nope! There's only one familiar name that appears in both the 2003 and 2007 8 day reports. 2-2-07 James B Nutter Sr. $10,000 2-2-07 Mrs. James B. Nutter Sr. $10,000 2-2-07 James Nutter Jr. $10,000 Big day at the Nutter household! Which candidate or candidates are so important that Jim Nutter is willing to kick in thirty large? Who knows but I think it's safe to say "It's good to be the king." So the Citizens Association takes in thousands of dollars from the likes of the Heavy Constructors, Casinos, and James B. Nutter and turns around and spends it with board member Pat O'Neill's company. I wonder who some of O'Neill Communications clients are? Nahhhh. I'm done for now. If I keep digging I'm afraid of what I might turn up!