From Stark
Kelli Linville and her campaign manager, Vanessa Blackburn, are calling my attention to something that I overlooked yesterday in compiling my report on campaign fundraising by Linville and her opponent, incumbent Mayor Dan Pike.
Besides raising $81,763, as I reported in today’s newspaper, the Pike campaign also reports $19,705.60 in debts. These debts are unpaid bills, and they are itemized on the Pike campaign’s most recent C4 financial report.
Most of it–$13,514.60–is owed to Winpower Strategies, the political consulting firm that we mentioned in a blog post yesterday. Other creditors include campaign manager Isabel VanDerslice and some local firms involved in various aspects of campaign advertising: Shew Design, Bellingham Screen Printing, Vid-Smith, and Copy Source, plus $252 owed to Pike himself after he apparently paid that sum for an ad in The Bellingham Herald.
Perhaps those of you who have experience in campaign finance management can comment on whether this is a big deal. Please don’t let your opinions of Pike or Linville influence your analysis. 
How about a voter weighing in as well as to whether it’s “no big deal? ”
Regardless of which candidate I support, this is no big, or even little, deal.
Nobody’s hiding anything.
How much a campaign is spending and how monies are managed are not a concern to me , unless there’s some
shady contributions or affiliations being hidden.
I do find it both telling and a little amusing that, if you stated it correctly, BOTH Ms. Linville and her campaign manager contacted you regarding the (non) issue.
Seems desperate.
to clarify: Blackburn emailed, and Linville is notifying lots of people via Facebook.
What did the Linville campaign offer in explanation of why they thought any of this is news? On their face, all these “debts” look pretty standard. However, if you manage to gin up some interest, people tend to jump to conclusions if they hear a candidates name in association with financing “questions.”
it definitely shows Pike’s tendency to not work within a budget. He likes to spend money that is not available or borrowed.
Of course, Worst_Ever_43 would trivialize a completely valid concern about how a politician runs her or his campaign. Spending far more than you take in is not “pretty standard,” Not at all. It’s that sort of thing that, in Worst_Ever_43′s words, “seems desperate.” How you run a campaign is a perfectly legitimate point of discussion. Furthermore, let’s remember that Pike had a number of reporting violations in 2007, including some he where the PDC forced him to pay fines. And he was cited for misusing public property (running his campaign, effectively speaking, off of his SCOG computer, for example—-something he did at public expense).
Mr. Pike is a demonstratively unethical and reckless campaigner and politician. 2011 is proving that all over again.
I brought this to John’s attention is because he did a fairly thorough analysis of campaign contributions and expenditures but left this piece of information out. Of the more than 1,000 candidates running for office in Washington state, the Dan Pike campaign ranks ninth in campaign debt, and that debt is nearly a quarter of the total amount raised. This information gives greater context for readers. Debt should be included when giving analysis to the financial health of an organization.
John… you are starting to show your political bias… careful, you’re a reporter, not an editorial columnist.
You know what Mr. conservative regressive Ed Simpson… Mr. Pike has been a heck of a good Mayor, with a few downsides. But much better than Ms. Linville with her wimpy-middle-of-the-road-don’t-take-a-stance position.
He, he! Should Linville supporters really turn the conversation to balancing budgets?
Spreadsheet of candidates in debt from 2010:
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/Candidates_in_Debt_2010.xls
It’s pretty common across the political spectrum.
Analysis of the campaign debt spreadsheet I linked to:
231 are Republicans / 59 million dollars in total debt (average $257k per)
182 are Democrats / 5 million dollars in total debt (average $29k per)
23 are Independents
16 are Third Party
Somebody can double check if they want, but it seems that the R’s have a slightly more difficult time running debt-free campaigns than the D’s do.
Yes, this issue does matter, but not according to the discussion field identified by John Stark.
It is very important that John Stark omitted the facts of Mr. Pike’s debts in the original article. John has not not corrected that article, a common practice in the electronic media, but rather relegates his partial correction by posting in his own blog. This certainly raises a question as to the journalistic practice employed in this story. Is the goal to fully inform the readers?
Second, this issue is very important regarding Mr. Pike’s ability to “have a hamburger today if it can be paid for on Tuesday”. (FYI, you must be over 50 to understand the significance of this line firsthand, otherwise Google it to LOL). Like the purchase of the Fairhaven Highlands and RG Haley site, Mr. Pike exhibits behavior to buy first then worry later about how to pay. This speaks volumes of his respect for the funders – us.
Yes, John, this issue is important. Even though Mr. Pike had his hamburger today, I will not help him pay for it on Tuesday. I prefer to send him home to make his own meals.
Ed..
First rule of civil debate: First one to resort to a personal attack loses.
You lost this one and, correct me if I’m wrong, the last couple.
Vanessa,
Thanks for the enlightening on your motive(s).
Perhaps you could include the source and/or the formula used for the information that Mayor Pike is “ranked ninth in”. Perhaps it was John’s earlier source? Tough to say.
I would appreciate the “greater context” as you say.
Oh my, this is getting nasty.
I loath mudslinging so I’ve withheld my own story about Kelli Linville, but I can’t hold it in any longer because she is sinking pretty low as far as her campaign is concerned, and I never did like her for causing so much dissension among the local liberal compadres by running against Mayor Pike, whom by the way I believe has done a fine job and will continue to do so.
It’s my understanding that Ms. Linville has or used to have a little antique business on the side.
Well, a good friend of mine who is a reliable source told me that one day she saw Kelli Linville in Value Village thrift store.
Value Village is a fun store to browse second and third hand merchandise, and on occasion the odd treasure can be found. I’ve spent time there myself but I prefer the Goodwill store where I’ve found many antique plates of which I am a collector. Plus they have $1.39 Mondays which can easily turn into $40.00 Mondays if you’re not careful.
The day my friend was at Value Village she spotted Ms. Linville talking with two store employees.
My friend overheard their conversation and she said that Kelli was showing the employees some merchandise, I don’t know what it was, and she was telling them that that piece of merchandise is exactly what she is looking for and that when another item of that type comes into the store she wanted those employees to set it aside for her and to call her on the phone so she could come and buy it so she could sell it for a profit at her store.
There actually are people who do that for a living, they’re called ‘Pickers’, and they make a lot more than minimum wage earners.
And so after Kelli left, my friend went to the two employees and correctly told them that if they horded that merchandise for Kelli they could lose their jobs.
I’m just saying what I’ve been told.
My own thought is that if Ms. Linville is comfortable wheeling and dealing with two minimum-wage workers who could lose their jobs over her propositions, and in broad public no less, so she could make a little profit, who knows what deals she’d be willing to make in private and for a greater profit.
I’m also uncomfortable about her endorsements because I don’t think many of them have the best interest of our community at heart.
@Camille- It seems like it would be fairly offensive to the Bellingham Police Officers that you would think they don’t have “the community’s best interests at heart.” Quite a statement. I guess I still work under the assumption that they serve to protect our community.
Let me do you one better, Camille. Did you hear the one about the chair of Ways & Means leaning on the mayor of Bellingham to endorse their husband for a lucrative appointment from the governor; then turn around and try to steal his job?
“Perhaps those of you who have experience in campaign finance management can comment on whether this is a big deal. Please don’t let your opinions of Pike or Linville influence your analysis.”
I will give it a go John from having been a treasurer as well as being involved in campaigns. I would say that campaign debt by itself is not a big deal. But there are two things that I will mention: 1) Your article would leave the impression that more money was avaialble for additional expenditures than is actually available to the mayor. His campaign will have to incur more debt to do additional activities that have not yet been reported. 2) Retiring campaign debt after winning is a lot easier than after a loss; hence, it is not without risk. It may be well that some invloved in the campaign may be comfortable with sharing that risk and will forego payment if the money is not available. A final note is that campaign debt this late means that it is less likley that a late mail surge or advertisment barage will take place – good news for the campaign not in debt.
Here is what I see: A Herald article that went to print without all the facts discussed/reported, oops? The debt is newsworthy. I called the PDC earlier today just to see how it works and Pike can pay the debt personally no problem, or he can continue to raise funds till the end of the year to pay for them.
I’m really disappointed in the people here that are thinking this is a good time to take cheap shots
I agree with Clayton. It is does not have the appearance of in-depth reporting. The splash makes front page but the corrections and clarifications are left to the online political blogs. Had you done your homework John you could have reported the facts and let folks discuss the importance of the issues. I believe there were other issues in this election that, with a little digging and work, could have been clarified or provided with insight…….not sure why it was not done.
Wasn’t Kelli Linville the Democrat in charge of the state budget that put us in this debt?
@stark
Did you type that last sentence of the Original Post with a straight face?
I guess he didn’t have a big reserve to spend down and can’t raise your taxes to cover it. That’s his brand of “fiscal responsibility.”
‘Of the more than 1,000 candidates running for office in Washington state, the Dan Pike campaign ranks ninth in campaign debt.’
Announces Ms. Blackburn.
I love this analysis.
From school boards to fire commissioners and everyone in between,
comparing and ranking debt levels by the sheer number of candidates must be a new version of arithmetic logic I haven’t heard before.
It stinks of desperation.
It stinks of more than desperation rubie?
Speech Therapist for the United States, one of those WEA funding problems on the ballot today!
“Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task; which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven…”
George Washington December 23…
I think the real key here is discouraging potential donors to the Pike campaign. If they know that their dollars are going towards covering what he has already spent, they might be less likely to give.
I’s have only one thought for me mayor:
Don’t let your mouth write no check that your tail can’t cash.”
-Bo Diddley
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Hesitant to disagree with a clearly seasoned politico, it doesn’t add up that potential donors may be discouraged over relatively small and routine campaign debt. Maybe that is a wish.
The debt will be dealt with after the election.
As referenced earlier, easier as a winning candidate than not.
The information very well could encourage more donors.
As for the overall campaign debt ratio Pike vs. Linville, I would say the incumbent did fairly well
against the challenger, who, as we’ve all heard ad infinitum, knows a lot of people, and gets along well with them, after seventeen years of service.
And this just in..
Research reveals that the Linville camp ranks first in the hundreds and hundreds
of thousands of campaigns in the state for ranking campaign debt. Ever.
Oops.
@apex–no–in fact I even added a smiley, which I normally avoid
@ chad and clayton: I accept the criticism. 100 percent valid.
Yes, I I would add, no more cheap shots, please.
This infighting between the left over the mayor’s race has really been getting me down lately so before y’all go any further you really better check out these words of wisdom, don’t ya know!
http://www.lookingattheleft.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/commie-anarchist-poster-ows.jpg
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Worst Ever: Civility starts with telling the truth. You are constantly on here spewing lies—either outright lies or lies of omission. Being snarky is also one of your mastered techniques. Gotta a love your wink-wink use of quotation marks. Very respectful.
James for Today,: I’ve been a left-wing Democrat my entire life. Not a conservative bone in my body, thank you very much. As for Pike’s performance as Mayor? Good god, man. Wishing it won’t make it so. The facts make a mockery of your assertion. He’s been one of the worst mayors imaginable. Reckless, deeply unethical, wholly lacking in intelligence and integrity. Don’t ask me. Ask Rick Larson, Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, and Governor Gregoire—people he has to work with. They all think he’s a complete joke.
And in case anyone needs another reminder, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/bhamconcerns
Ed,
First of all, quote the lie. Any lie.
There must be many as I am “constantly on here spewing’ them, which ironically we both know is a lie.
You may not agree with my OPINION, but there is no lie.
Again, prove me wrong.
You disagree with my assessment of Ms. Linvilles coal train position, I get it.
It’s an opinion based on her own words… many more than myself
have and are questioning her commitment. Are they ALL liars too??
I have not PERSONALLY attacked any poster.
It’s against the rules, horrible manners and when you do so you immediately
lose the debate in my opinion.
You personally attack me every time you “open your mouth” to speak at me.
Stay classy.
PS
Why the criticisms of my “quotes”??
You lost me.
At this point I am not exactly sure why anyone puts any stock into any of Pike’s reporting to the PDC. Ed Simpson has some good points.
Pike’s track record on PDC reporting is not very good. He was investigated by the PDC and found guilty and fined. I am pretty sure he has the record for most PDC violations in Bellingham in one election season. The PDC even went out of its way to consolidate charges and even attempted not to respond to PDC complaints at all until forced.
From the PDC’s investigative records: “Mr Pike violated RCW 42.17.40, 42.17.80, 42.17.90 and 42.17.130″ Anyone who reads the complaint can see that there were numerous emails and violations involved. In my opinion, being convicted by the PDC for using his tax payer paid SCOG office to help run his campaign is a new low.
In 2007, the Skagit Valley Herald covered the story where Pike’s office refused to comply with a Public Disclosure Request that was supported by the State AG’s office to provide computer records which would have shown how he spent most of his time at SCOG. Pike’s SCOG attorney attempted to charge $2000 to retrieve and copy a single computer index.dat file. Sam Taylor acknowledged this fact.
Who knows what else Pike was up to while getting paid to work at SCOG during his 2007 campaign? It is clear that he didn’t want his tax payer owned computer surfing records made public.
Pike was fined $500 in 2008 for these PDC reporting violations. In other words, I don’t think there has ever been a City Candidate who has broken as many PDC laws as Pike did to get elected.
In summary, based on past PDC convictions, one should vote for the candidate who looks better in high heels.
Just think in just a few more days Bellingham will have elected its first woman mayor, there’s a glass ceiling shattered for good, don’t ya know!
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
I love when AFY can cite that his pet agenda just happens to overlap with some progressive appeal.
If Cain wins the GOP nomination, Republicans everywhere will be aggressively pointing out his race.
Myself, I will never support a candidate more or less based on whether they break a “glass ceiling” or set a demographic precident. Such a thing would be pleasant bonus at best.
RM; Sometimes it is good to get a pleasant bonus. Happy endings are not all bad, don’t ya know!
Hey RM, you gonna save me a seat at the Copper Hog Tuesday?
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
“…quote the lie. Any lie.”
Easy. Fish in a barrel.
On 10/28/11 at 12:45 PM, you said, “Ms. Linville took no stance at all and remained on the fence on this issue until very recently.”
That’s a lie.
“He [Pike] landed so solidly against it so quickly….”
And that’s another lie. In fact, that’s a whopper of a lie. This could go on and on. But who has time.
These actual facts regarding this issue have been pointed out to you repeatedly. This is not about interpreting events and rendering an opinion. We’re talking about simple, in-your-face, plain-as-day facts. But the facts appear to mean nothing to you. You simply lie again on this issue. Just like WCV. Just like the Pike campaign. Perhaps you need yet another primer in what’s actually going on (i.e., the facts), as opposed to the ginned-up nonsense coming out of the Pike campaign and WCV. I’d suggest you carefully study this careful, intellectually honest examination of the facts regarding who stood where on this issue and when:
http://washingtonlandscape.blogspot.com/2011/11/kelli-linville-clearly-opposed-to-coal.html
If you’re going to spew nonsense, I’m going to call you on it. If you feel “attacked” by the truth, well, that’s just sad.
As for your bafflement regarding your occasional use of quotation marks to be tacitly insulting? Well, you lost me. While your insulting intentions appear demonstrative, I could charitably say that perhaps, in these instances, you’re not even aware you’re doing it. Perhaps.
Ed,
Thanks for the effort.
Hilarious, but an honest effort none the less.
Telling ,..that I predicted exactly the issue you would come back with.
Of ALL the ones I am “constantly on here spewing”…
She hedged her bets from day ONE on the coal issue and anyone choosing to be honest knows it.
“I won’t support it if it’s ONLY a coal terminal..I would support a multi-use facility”..or the like.
Those of us NOT in denial would read that as she would PERHAPS support a multi-use facility that facilitated coal.
YOU, however can take it any way you like.
It’s called an OPINION on her stance, and his for that matter, something, last I checked, we are all ENTITLED to and some come here to express.
Mayor Pike was initially for it, stating that his support could be subject to change once all the input and facts are analyzed.
Now, as for my previous challenge of quoting one of the many lies you say I “spew”, with SO many to choose from, perhaps you would like to take another swing.
You only have two strikes.
I’ll look forward to another example of one of the constant ones, shouldn’t take long.
If you choose not to, I will understand and assume we are now both in agreement that everyone is entitled to offer an opinion and oafish/bullyish personal attacks really have no place here on the political blog per the rules here and common courtesy.
Thanks in advance for composing yourself, sticking to the topic(s), and leaving the personal attacks in the playground.