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Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
DARK MONEY: How it impacts local elections.

Dark money is contributions made to a Political Committee (PC), a Committee of Continuous Existence, or other organizations formed under Florida Elections Law to accumulate funds to pay for political campaigns. There are thousands of these funds utilized in state and federal elections to influence voters. These funds are now being used to influence local elections.

To view the thousands of Florida funds, their donors, and contribution amounts, go to the Florida Elections Commission (Dept.of State) website. It will surprise you, the average citizen, who cannot afford to contribute large amounts to candidates and referendums, to know that your local elections are being influenced by big donors. When you receive a flood of flyers in the mail, robotic phone calls, push polls, and see expensive TV ads, much of the funding comes from “Dark Money”held in these accounts.

Legislators, local commissioners’ supporters, and others start their own funds (using Tallahassee lobbyists, lawyers, and consultants) where their donors can contribute unlimited sums of money to their campaigns without being listed on a candidate’s contributor disclosure forms. One must dig through these organizations online at the Florida Elections Committee website to determine who is contributing. Many times it will be another Committee contributing to a committee which requires tracing back through the committees to determine who exactly contributed.

As an individual citizen, you are restricted by law as to the amount of money you can contribute to a campaign. It varies depending on the office. But, if you give to a PC, or other, there is no limit on the amount you can contribute.!

An example of these funds influencing local elections is seen in the 2016 County Commission races. Randy Gardner gave $5000 to Voter Response (an Electioneering Communication Committee) and his Grande Point Development LLC gave $5000.
(Grande Point Development in Inlet Beach is in the news lately because the homeowners are suing the homebuilder.)

David Ramba, a Tallahassee lobbyist, runs about 90 of these Electioneering, PC, and other committees. He is listed as the Registered Agent. With the $10,000 contribution from Mr. Gardner, thousands of negative flyers were printed and mailed to Walton County voters about 30 days before the primary election.
One of these flyers had false statements known to be false by the writer. False statements made with malicious intent to damage a candidate are a violation of the
Florida Elections Law.

That’s the way it’s done folks.
So if you think your vote counts, it does. But more importantly, your knowledge of dark money, contributors, and the impact on local elections is more important. As they say; Follow the money.

Walton Politics mission is to keep the citizen voters, who are too busy working for a living to follow the money, informed of behind the scenes activity designed to influence your decisions.

www.facebook.com/Waltonpolitics/?hc_ref=ARQ_T7Ws0ZVt7fc-N0TZhLcjoSm47uSNYi-7QjHsXOv399F6ThiiG2Q1oMyn7vp2WRE&fref=nf
 

FactorFiction

Beach Fanatic
Feb 18, 2016
494
409
DARK MONEY: How it impacts local elections.

Dark money is contributions made to a Political Committee (PC), a Committee of Continuous Existence, or other organizations formed under Florida Elections Law to accumulate funds to pay for political campaigns. There are thousands of these funds utilized in state and federal elections to influence voters. These funds are now being used to influence local elections.

To view the thousands of Florida funds, their donors, and contribution amounts, go to the Florida Elections Commission (Dept.of State) website. It will surprise you, the average citizen, who cannot afford to contribute large amounts to candidates and referendums, to know that your local elections are being influenced by big donors. When you receive a flood of flyers in the mail, robotic phone calls, push polls, and see expensive TV ads, much of the funding comes from “Dark Money”held in these accounts.

Legislators, local commissioners’ supporters, and others start their own funds (using Tallahassee lobbyists, lawyers, and consultants) where their donors can contribute unlimited sums of money to their campaigns without being listed on a candidate’s contributor disclosure forms. One must dig through these organizations online at the Florida Elections Committee website to determine who is contributing. Many times it will be another Committee contributing to a committee which requires tracing back through the committees to determine who exactly contributed.

As an individual citizen, you are restricted by law as to the amount of money you can contribute to a campaign. It varies depending on the office. But, if you give to a PC, or other, there is no limit on the amount you can contribute.!

An example of these funds influencing local elections is seen in the 2016 County Commission races. Randy Gardner gave $5000 to Voter Response (an Electioneering Communication Committee) and his Grande Point Development LLC gave $5000.
(Grande Point Development in Inlet Beach is in the news lately because the homeowners are suing the homebuilder.)

David Ramba, a Tallahassee lobbyist, runs about 90 of these Electioneering, PC, and other committees. He is listed as the Registered Agent. With the $10,000 contribution from Mr. Gardner, thousands of negative flyers were printed and mailed to Walton County voters about 30 days before the primary election.
One of these flyers had false statements known to be false by the writer. False statements made with malicious intent to damage a candidate are a violation of the
Florida Elections Law.

That’s the way it’s done folks.
So if you think your vote counts, it does. But more importantly, your knowledge of dark money, contributors, and the impact on local elections is more important. As they say; Follow the money.

Walton Politics mission is to keep the citizen voters, who are too busy working for a living to follow the money, informed of behind the scenes activity designed to influence your decisions.

www.facebook.com/Waltonpolitics/?hc_ref=ARQ_T7Ws0ZVt7fc-N0TZhLcjoSm47uSNYi-7QjHsXOv399F6ThiiG2Q1oMyn7vp2WRE&fref=nf
It is sad commentary when elections become more about how much money a candidate has at their disposal for negative campaigning rather than the in person contact and question and answers that a candidate can provide on real issues. Danny Glidewell is running a smart campaign. He is putting himself out there early and often. He answers questions honestly and directly and doesn't shy away from questions on topics that are controversial. I hope that he wins and that he doesn't need a ridiculous sum of money to do it. Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to organizations or people who pour massive amounts of money into campaigns?
 

lazin&drinkin

Beach Lover
Apr 13, 2010
174
154
It is sad commentary when elections become more about how much money a candidate has at their disposal for negative campaigning rather than the in person contact and question and answers that a candidate can provide on real issues. Danny Glidewell is running a smart campaign. He is putting himself out there early and often. He answers questions honestly and directly and doesn't shy away from questions on topics that are controversial. I hope that he wins and that he doesn't need a ridiculous sum of money to do it. Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to organizations or people who pour massive amounts of money into campaigns?
Unfortunately, Danny is facing an opponent who will be extremely lavishly funded and whose principal backer will steer over 100k to her campaign fund. He will also see to it that at least two other candidates appear for that seat, shutting out Democrats and splitting the votes against Cecilia. If you want Danny to win, do as I and others are doing. Make a campaign donation. Tell everyone you see how important it is that they work and vote for Danny's election. And VOTE for him yourself.

Danny is indeed working hard, just as he'd work hard once in office. Fairly, openly, and honestly. The Courthouse and Annex might shake and fall when he comes in after taking office. Fair? Open? Honest? Unfortunately there is serious question about how some players in this county view and practice those qualities that Danny has in abundance.​
 

Jimmy T

Beach Fanatic
Apr 6, 2015
866
1,235
Unfortunately, Danny is facing an opponent who will be extremely lavishly funded and whose principal backer will steer over 100k to her campaign fund. He will also see to it that at least two other candidates appear for that seat, shutting out Democrats and splitting the votes against Cecilia. If you want Danny to win, do as I and others are doing. Make a campaign donation. Tell everyone you see how important it is that they work and vote for Danny's election. And VOTE for him yourself.

Danny is indeed working hard, just as he'd work hard once in office. Fairly, openly, and honestly. The Courthouse and Annex might shake and fall when he comes in after taking office. Fair? Open? Honest? Unfortunately there is serious question about how some players in this county view and practice those qualities that Danny has in abundance.​
100% agree. This election will be decided by republican voters in the primary. Non-republicans, please consider temporarily changing your party affiliation and help Danny get elected.
 

Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
100% agree. This election will be decided by republican voters in the primary. Non-republicans, please consider temporarily changing your party affiliation and help Danny get elected.

AMEN AMEN AMEN! You can switch back to your party after the primaries!
 

Danny Glidewell

Beach Fanatic
Mar 26, 2008
725
914
Glendale
Thanks for the kind words. If we work together we can win and I have been greatly encouraged by the support we have received this early in the campaign.
 

Bob Wells

Beach Fanatic
Jul 25, 2008
3,380
2,857
Seems we had a committee at work last election that no one seemed to know alot about. Wonder if they will be involved again.
 

Kaydence

Beach Fanatic
Jan 19, 2017
1,415
1,124
Florida
Seems we had a committee at work last election that no one seemed to know alot about. Wonder if they will be involved again.


There was more than one committee including the one pushing Tony Anderson that did a hatchet job on Cindy Meadows. If you didn't know about the other one its because you didn't follow the paper trail. Ironically, the one that favored Nipper and went after Chapman for his shenanigans as a WCSO, Imfield and the missing money and told the truth, while the other one lied. The Ethics Complaint against Cindy Meadows was totally unfounded.
 
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