If you don't understand WHY this occurred you don't
belong in this GROUP State GOP over $200K in debt. Report shows dominant
political party unable to capitalize on success. By James Salzer jsalzer@ajc.com and Greg Bluestein
gbluestein@ajc.com
The state Republican Party’s financial problems grew more
dire in the final months of 2015, leaving the dominant political force in
Georgia mired in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.
The Georgia GOP filed an end-of-the-year report showing
it had $11,403 cash on hand and was $231,000 in debt — a startling revelation
for a party that commanded millions just a few election cycles ago.
Election victors are usually in prime position to refill
their campaign coffers — and then some — after the votes. And Georgia
Republicans have notched a string of victories, sweeping every statewide office
in both 2010 and 2014 while retaining big majorities in the General Assembly.
But the state GOP has been unable to capitalize on the
wins, and the party’s bank account has steadily depleted over the past six
years. The party, by contrast, had $2 million in the bank at the start of 2010,
$844,000 in early 2012 and $425,000 in 2014. The fundraising challenges
factored into the re-election campaign of Athens businessman John Padgett, who
was first picked by Republican activists to run the party in 2013. He won a
narrow victory last year against a challenger who claimed the party had lost
its edge.
Padgett has relied upon former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston to
help the party restock its bank account, and the Savannah Republican has
organized events throughout the state featuring national figures and statewide
leaders. But one of the biggest events — a planned “Second Amendment celebration”
for October — was scrapped.
Party spokesman Ryan Mahoney said in a statement that
Padgett and Kingston are working to “raise money and strengthen relationships
with key donors throughout the state and country.” He said he’s confident the
GOP will have the resources to support Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, who
is seeking a third term, and win back the White House.
One party insider blamed the big bills on campaign
consultants who helped Padgett win his race. “The party was very successful when it was focused on beating Democrats,” said
Justin Tomczak, a Cobb County GOP leader. “Now it seems like it’s shifted
toward a patronage system. They’re handing out checks to people who helped get
the party chair in place.”
Republican consultant Todd Rehm said Kingston exceeded
the party’s fundraising goals by bringing in more than $250,000 since he took
charge of the GOP’s donor efforts. “But there are structural issues at the party not being addressed and he hasn’t
been given the leeway to do that,” Rehm said.
Others point to a lack of urgency. With no Democratic
opposition yet to Isakson, House Republicans holding on to relatively safe
seats and no all-out effort yet by Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton to
turn Georgia blue, they say there’s little incentive for donors to open up
their wallets.
The state Democratic Party, which has recently suffered from its own
fundraising problems, has not yet filed end-of-the-year disclosures. But in a
state filing in July it reported some $180,000 in the bank and $2,100 in debt.
According to the end-of-the-year disclosure report, the
state GOP owes money to a host of creditors, including roughly $60,000 in
credit card debt to BB&T Financial and $6,300 in rent to ASI Properties.
The party also lists owing $6,000 to Dentons, the
powerful law firm that includes Gov. Nathan Deal’s campaign lawyer, Randy
Evans, and $35,000 to the law firm of the party’s general counsel, Anne Lewis.
The state party also listed $25,200 in deferred payments
for communications consulting to Sugarcane Strategies, the company helmed by
Ma-honey, the party’s longtime spokesman.
DWINDLING CASH
The Georgia Republican Party’s cash on hand as reported at the start of the year has been declining for years: 2010: $2 million 2012: $844,000 2014: $425,000 2016: $11,403
The Georgia Republican Party’s cash on hand as reported at the start of the year has been declining for years: 2010: $2 million 2012: $844,000 2014: $425,000 2016: $11,403
Posted by
Harry Abrams on New Republican Leadership for Principles above Politicians
(facebook), 1/19/16
Source:AJC
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