Last updated on 2012.09.17
District 8 Senate candidate Charlie Johnson is a good guy (not to mention a brave Madville Times sponsor!). The South Dakota Educators Political Action Committee, affiliated with SDEA, are good folks, too.
But might Charlie be too good a guy? Check out this announcement from his Facebook campaign page:
Recently I was informed by the SD Educators Political Action Committee(SD-EPIC) that I have been endorsed as pro-public education candidate for the state legislature. I proudly accept their endorsement although per my stance on PAC donations for my campaign, I will be returning their financial contribution. The continued improvement for public education in SD is the major reason I'm running for a state senate seat. I proudly stand behind our educators and the school districts they work in [Charlie Johnson, Facebook post, Charlie Johnson for Senate page, September 17, 2012].
Johnson can use every penny he can get to beat Senate GOP Leader Russell Olson and his loyal corps of deep-pocket donors. The educators' PAC wouldn't change Johnson's mind with their money; Johnson is already a more staunch advocate of teachers and free and fair public education than Senator Olson has shown himself to be with any of his stingy school budget votes in Pierre. Their money would just help counter Olson's predictable sign and PR blitz.
But Johnson has said from the get-go that he will not accept PAC money, unlike Senator Olson, who took nearly $19,000 in PAC money in 2010 and has not signaled any desire to turn off that spigot this year. So Johnson, on principle, is sending that money back.
So District 8 voters, if you like Charlie, you'd better get out and tell this story. Because right now, for every one voter who knows about Charlie Johnson's principled anti-PAC stand, there are a hundred who don't anything about the District 8 Senate race but the expensive billboards they see on their way to work along Highway 34. Spread the word!
(And hey, SD Educators' PAC, if Charlie won't take your money, I'll happily take some to put up an ad encouraging folks to Nix 16!)
I'll bet if any individual SDEA member wants to send Charlie some money, he'd be more than willing to accept. Get our those checkbooks folks!
To quote Steve Miller, Charlie, "take the money and run" to win! You're going to make a great legislator and your voice for rural communities, family producers and safe, competent public schools is desperately needed in Pierre.
I agree with Charlie. Sometimes it's not about winning. It's about values. Charlie has them. I think he can win without the money, with his values and have strong voice for us in Pierre. Unless the Supreme Court has made a last minute decision, dollars still can't vote. So hopefully Olsen can sit on his pile of cash, at home, by himself when the session opens in January.
It does take money to win, but, it will be great to not have the gut twist of how to say no to a pac. That can apply to those large individual contributions as well.
Frank and Charlie are right. Charlie sticks with his principles with organic farming and with not taking PAC money. That is what he is and that is what you are voting for. We do not really vote for a campaigh slogan, we vote for a person and their principles are a lot of who they are. Way to short of that quality of principles in government now days. Anyone who does not vote for Charlie Johnson does not have or respect excellent principles.
When Charlie Johnson announced he was running, I was, I believe, the only person who had never heard of Charlie Johnson! Now that I've gotten to know him throughout this campaign, I am *so* impressed with his knowledge, his ideas for how to improve this state, and how hard he will work for *all* of South Dakotans, not just the deep-pocketed ones. I am proud to say I now know Charlie Johnson and I am proud to be a supporter!
Lorri, if there is any practical reason that Charlie can get by with turning down that PAC money, that Charlie name and network is it. From a purely practical perspective, if he can get the story out without that money, he can win.
Believe me, I love seeing principle win over pragmatism. I hope it can do so here. But will people pay attention to the "no PAC money" message? Does that message resonate?
(And Matt, good point! Individuals, pitch in!)
What is spent on the average state legislative race in SD? It seems like it isn't that much.
It would certainly resonate for me.
So far I've only seen one flyer at my door in District 14 and I know our incumbent Senator isn't running again.
It seems like it would take a an extremely uncommon quantity of money to make up for superior reputation.
Average cost? Good question, Justin! If I had more time tonight, I could pull every campaign finance document from 2010 and 2008 and calculate an average. But I can tell you that Charlie's opponent Russ spent around $60,000 to plaster Madison and District 8 with signs in 2008 and win his Senate seat.
That is outrageous!
I can tell you one thing, I know that is WAAY above average without having any stats other than that Charlie Hoffman received $1,850 in contributions in 2010 compared to Olson's $34,423 in 2010 and $66,290 in 2008.
Charlie turns down PAC money so that he is beholden to no one but district 8.
Russell accepts money from 60 different PACs.
Draw your own conclusions District 8.
Is there any way to verify that number, Jana? I don't doubt it, but there was a recent court ruling that will allow for direct election money to be spent by 501(4)c's anonymously just in time for local elections.
You can look at what is reported and confirm that it doesn't come close to adding up, but now I'm not even sure the total needs to be reported accurately.
Minnesota Superman, Jesse Ventura, was on CNN this week talking about PAC money as bribery. I agree. Big PACS are buying politicians.
So are the small ones, SS. It's the anonymity that is taken advantage of more than anything. The recipients know who it comes from even if it's divvied up into small parcels.
Justin, I just followed Cory's link from the story and Olson's 2010 campaign report.