Dark money group donates $90K to Scottsdale United Beth Duckett, The Republic | azcentral 4:16 p.m. MST August 25, 2014 Scottsdale City Hall (Photo: Beth Duckett/The Republic) Story Highlights A non-profit group contributed $90,500 to a Scottsdale political committee The committee, Scottsdale United, supports council candidates Linda Milhaven, Jennifer Petersen and Dennis Robbins The $90,500 is significantly more than any individual candidate raised during the same reporting period 4 CONNECT 7 TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENT EMAIL MORE A non-profit dark money group has poured more than $90,000 into the race for Scottsdale City Council, recent finance reports show. The $90,500 is significantly more than any individual candidate raised during the same reporting period, according to reports. Scottsdale Strong, Inc., contributed the anonymous funding to the Scottsdale United political committee, which is backing candidates Linda Milhaven, Jennifer Petersen and Dennis Robbins. The groups are separate but share a common leader, Judith Eisenhower, who is listed in a city filing as executive director of the Barry Goldwater Foundation. Scottsdale Strong, as a non-profit corporation, is not required to disclose where its money is coming from. Scottsdale United, as a political committee, is required to submit regular campaign-finance reports with the Scottsdale city clerk showing its funding sources. Scottsdale Strongs contributions surpassed the dollars raised by any of the candidates themselves, according to the most recently available finance reports, which showed campaign contributions and spending through Aug. 14. Scottsdale United received four contributions from Scottsdale Strong from July 3 to Aug. 8. Scottsdale United spent most of the money — about $81,500 — on campaign signs, mail pieces and newspaper ads, according to its report. So-called dark money from outside groups has shadowed races across Arizona including those for governor and secretary of state leading up to Tuesdays primary election. In forms filed with the city clerk and Arizona Secretary of States Office, Eisenhower is listed as treasurer of Scottsdale United, and is a director of Scottsdale Strong. Timothy La Sota, a statutory agent for Scottsdale Strong, declined to reveal details about the groups funding sources in a July interview with The Republic. On July 17, a campaign-finance complaint was filed against the non-profit group. The city clerk later found that no violation had occurred. Other Scottsdale political committees also turned in finance reports, due last week. Here are the highlights: • The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale committee raised $2,385 through Aug. 14. Its largest donations totaling $1,300 came from Marilyn Atkinson, a longtime Old Town business owner. • The True Voices of Scottsdale raised $11,300, all of which came from chairman Michael Fernandez. The committee spent $8,802, mostly on costs related to election signs, door hangers and legal costs.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:35 +0000
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