What Special Interests Gave Money to School Board and Alder Candidates? I wish I knew. I went to the clerk’s office to find out. I was told I was handed “everything” but clearly I was not. Where are these missing City of Madison Campaign Finance Reports? Apparently, candidates turned in their reports, but I couldn’t get access to them. Deadline was Monday, today is Thursday and I still don’t have access to the information, 5 days before the primary election.
MISSING? CITY OF MADISON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
The clerk’s office put the mayoral candidates campaign finance reports on-line and I reported on that. When I was sifting through the conduit money, I noticed that several special interests had given to Kaleem Caire, so I wanted to see who was all giving to him. School board and alder reports were not on line, so I went to the clerks office at 2:00 yesterday hoping 2 hours would be enough to sift through the reports. Turns out, it took me less than 20 minutes.
The clerks office handed me a basket and said “that’s everything”. I sorted through it – It had lobbyist reporting forms and other information. And very few candidates reports. Kaleem’s report was there, but it was so tiny, I couldn’t read it, even with my bifocals.
I noticed several people I know would have had their reports in were missing. I inquired. The person checked the email. The person went to the back, talked to the clerk and said, nope, that’s all we got. They also said they might find a few more in email and that they would send them to me. That was 24 hours ago and I have received no such information.
NOT MISSING CITY OF MADISON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
I did two facebook posts (School Board, Alders) and several of the candidates confirmed that they had sent in their reports – by email.
Several even sent me their reports. But that’s not the point. The public, who is currently early voting, should easily have access to this information. And, when asked for it, they should turn it over.
