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The Faulkner County mafia -- UPDATE

In case you'd missed the strong influence of Faulkner Countians in Arkansas Republican politics, starting with Chairman Gil Baker, consider this:

The Coalition for Arkansas' Future, a 527 front group funded almost exclusively by the state Republican Party and the Republican Governors Association, has been pumping money mostly into the governor's race and some selected legislative races. But that's not all.

Wonder how Jim Holt-Jim Lagrone-Chris Morris-etc. would feel about learning that party money is going out to support -- not them -- but a candidate for Faulkner County judge?

The Coalition sent out a mailing in behalf of Catherin Blankenship, who, thanks to national Republicans' money, thousands have been told "is prepared to lead Faulkner County." Don't mess with her. As the mailing notes, she has a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo. Hai karate!

Noted: This sounds an awful lot like an endorsement, which 527s are prohibited from issuing. But the law is well established. As long as 527s don't expressly advocate votes for or against a candidate, anything short of that is legal.

UPDATE: Sam Faubus, over at Greasy Creek, notes the similarity between Blankenship's materials and the supposedly "independent" 527's language. Coordinated? You decide.

Posted by Max Brantley on October 31, 2006 09:40 AM |

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ADVISORY OPINION NO. 2006-EC-004
Issued April 21, 2006

ADVISORY OPINION NO. 2006-EC-005
Issued June 16, 2006


http://www.arkansasethics.com/search.htm

Posted by: Dome Rat [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 31, 2006 10:14 AM

I'm sure it's also no coincidence that there was a letter to the editor last week to point out the Thanksgiving dinner that she and her family do. Don't get me wrong....it's a VERY good thing that they do for the community. There are letters after the event every year thanking them. But a letter over a month before? And pointing her out by name? Maybe I'm paranoid, but it looked a little fishy....

Posted by: EY [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 31, 2006 12:08 PM

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