oliver_babish OP t1_j6xx4ku wrote
Reply to comment by Little_Noodles in [Inquirer] The Philly mayor’s race is a money race, from thousands of small donations to a $5 million check by oliver_babish
Huh. I don't see anyone else paying Street but Rebecca here:
Little_Noodles t1_j6xzo2y wrote
See the article on the recent interview with Brown and Nutter.
… He went on to ask Brown a series of probing questions, including who is advising him about how municipal government works. Brown responded that about two years ago, he hired former Mayor John F. Street to work for nine months as an adviser …
Brown hired him as a consultant before launching his campaign. His own money, prior to the campaign, not gonna be on disclosure forms. We have no idea how much he paid, and only know about it because he offered the information.
Also, the only reason Street is brought up in the article posted by the OP is because he later endorsed her. I guarantee you that other candidates have also spent money on consultants. Some of which will go on to endorse the candidate, encourage others to do so, or assist in other ways.
It’s notable, especially if it coincides with other things that might make it suspect - a larger sum, evidence that no real work was performed in exchange, if the endorsement contradicted things the endorser had said in the past. But it’s not that unusual or inherently damning in and of itself.
oliver_babish OP t1_j6y6f0o wrote
That is a really good catch, and it highlights how much we don't know about what Brown was doing to seek influence (and advice) before officially getting started.
Little_Noodles t1_j6y9x6x wrote
I think it’s probably safe to assume every single serious candidate spent some money and spent time with the right people before declaring their candidacy.
Nobody sane announces that they’re running for mayor without getting into position to start the race first.
Of course, the more money you have on hand from your personal budget, and Brown has a lot, the more you can do to set things up in your favor off the books before making that announcement.
oliver_babish OP t1_j6ya4a2 wrote
Yeah, but everyone else was already an elected official and therefore had to disclose what they were spending at all times. I think that's the difference.
Little_Noodles t1_j6yaiai wrote
Would they have had to if it was their own personal funds?
Like, Domb has plenty of his own cash. If he dipped into his own personal bank account that he pays for groceries and shit out of to hire a consultant to evaluate his chances of success in a mayoral race prior to announcing, he could afford to do that.
Would he have to report that? Or would he have to start the Allan Domb for Philadelphia fund first with his own cash, at which point it’s reportable?
I always assumed that until the campaign is launched, as long as it’s not coming from a designated fund (and you only need to create the fund if you’re taking other people’s money) it’s not required to be reported. But I could be wrong about the mechanics of that.
Either way, yeah, it does make me wonder about the surprise, unscheduled AFSCME vote for Brown.
MagnusUnda t1_j6yk1g4 wrote
Careful, Reddit is full Rhynhart cultists, or perhaps Rebecbots? Prepare to take a karma hit for sharing actual facts!
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