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July 23, 2007
New law muddles political donations
The Morning Journal
By Alex M. Parker
A reporter from a local daily paper in Ohio uses a campaign donation from a Forest City exec as an example of just the type of contribution that may come under stricter scrutiny under a reform bill passed last year:
In an expensive Democratic primary race against a challenger with deep pockets, Elyria Mayor Bill Grace counted on individual contributors to carry him to victory over challenger Holly Brinda in May.
His biggest donor? Samuel Miller, the co-chairman and treasurer of Forest City Enterprises, the Cleveland-based real estate behemoth -- and developer of Chestnut Commons in southeast Elyria.
Miller donated $4,000 to Grace's campaign, the largest single donation in the race. Because Ohio has no limits for local contributions, the donation was legal.
...
Election officials said it is unclear whether the current law targets just traditional government contractors -- such as those for sewer installation -- or whether it includes things like tax incentives, which cities make with businesses to bring in commercial developments, like Chestnut Commons.
NoLandGrab: New York City's top Forest City exec, Bruce Ratner, likes to brag that he doesn't do campaign contributions. You can imagine everyone's surprise when Norman Oder revealed that campaign contributions are funneled through Bruce's brother's family.
Posted by lumi at July 23, 2007 9:00 AM