If you detected a whiff of self-dealing rising from Democrat gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan's latest campaign finance report, you're hardly alone.
Here some of the highlights:
- Thanks to the digging of the Idaho Statesman's Cynthia Sewell, we know Jordan shelled out a lot of money and time traveling - much of it out of state. That included $46,632 on commercial and private air travel and nearly $21,000 on lodging. In all, it amounted to 17 percent of the money Jordan's campaign spent from May 26 through Sept. 30.
In contrast, Jordan's Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Brad Little, devoted $7,831 to travel and meals - or 3 percent of his campaign's overall expenditures during the same four months.
- As columnist Marc Johnson detailed on this page Friday, there are links between Jordan's campaign and the super PAC - Strength and Progress Political Action Committee - formed in Wyoming with her input. As the super PAC was being organized, Jordan's campaign paid $20,000 to Roughneck Steering Inc, which shares the same address as Strength and Progress PAC, and was registered with the Wyoming Secretary of State's office three days after the PAC formally launched.
Word of the super PAC's formation and Jordan's ties to it emerged shortly after three campaign staffers - manager Michael Rosenow, communications director Lisa Newcomb and event scheduler Leah Nemeroff - quit. Signed nondisclosure agreements kept them quiet.
At the same time, Jordan's campaign allocated another $10,000 to DBMS Inc., of Cheyenne, Wyo. It's owned by California attorney Nathanial Kelly, who is Jordan's latest campaign manager, and also helped in creating the Wyoming-based super PAC.
- Johnson spotted another wrinkle - close to $200,000 allocated among out-of-state consultants, much of it seemingly squandered on duplicative services.
For instance, Jordan's campaign retained New Blue Interactive of Washington, D.C. to provide digital strategy and fundraising services. Then it added Berger-Hirschberg of Washington, D.C., to do the same work during the general election campaign.
The Jordan campaign secured Blue Wave Political Partners of Seattle to work on campaign finance reporting and compliance. But for the general election campaign, it also hired WePAC LLC of Novato, Calif., to provide the same service.
Meanwhile, virtually nothing of the $1 million Jordan's campaign has collected has manifested itself in television and radio advertisements or direct mail.
Even as the questions pile up, Jordan offers nothing more than babbling incoherence.
Here's her response to Sewell from Monday's televised debate:
"Well, again, thank you, Cynthia, because we did have a very long conversation about this prior to this event. We've submitted a press statement to you and as many others have asked us questions.
"So you do have all the facts and figures before you. But you're asking it here again, so same follow-up to you.
"So these are the same contractors for the campaign for helping with information as we're getting out the vote, which is a simple process, which is supporters of the campaign or contributing to the campaign is for, which is getting more people to the doors, not only knocking on those doors in the community, but making the phone calls in communities all across Idaho."
Is it any wonder people are drawing their own conclusions?
Some suspect Jordan, rather than running for governor, is concentrated on forging a national brand she can monetize. That could mean a gig as a talking head on cable TV news, maybe a book deal, lucrative speaking fees or a more prominent role within the national Democratic Party.
There are those who wonder if Jordan is oblivious. After all, the Jordan campaign has careened from one mishap to another. They believe Jordan is interested solely in waging a vanity project and has delegated the campaign finance details to others.
But others infer a darker motive. They fear Jordan is squirreling away money in shell companies and consultants that will flow toward a super PAC where she will have a prominent role after the election.
Jordan can put this all to rest by pledging to undertake the following:
- A campaign - replete with advertising, direct mail, an extensive schedule and robust interaction with Idaho media - will emerge.
- She will get to the bottom of her campaign finances and explain them.
- If she loses, Jordan will remain in Idaho and commit herself to the unglamorous work of promoting the progressive agenda in the Gem State.
- Jordan also will abstain from drawing compensation from the Strength and Progress PAC.
The question here is simple: Whose side is Jordan on?
Yours?
Or hers? - M.T.
