Who is funding the anti-LTT campaign

[Analyst]

Today the public finance reports were required to be in by all political and referendum committees.  It is good to see who is funding the anti-LTT effort.

Let’s start with the famous robo caller the Chatham County Coalition for Homeownership. I’m sure many of you have been the recipient of calls from this group is trying to trade on the name of Chatham’s own grassroots organization the Chatham Coalition.   

The treasurer Chester W. Burgess III the owner of Burgess Construction see http://www.chetburgesshomes.com/contact-us.html.  He is totally funded by the NC Association of Realtors, Inc.  The realtor's paid $4860.00 for the robo calls you have all have enjoyed.  If you wish to share your pleasure as a recipient of these robo calls you may call Mr. Burgess at 929-0077, which is his company’s office number.  I would suggest that you do it early and often during business hours.   You may email him at cb32x4@aol.com.  Constant email will help him understand your feelings about robo calls.

The next out of county organization working on the LTT is the friends of CCV, Americans for Prosperity.  Their NC organizer Dallas Woodhouse created AFP-Chatham County on Oct. 17, 2007.  Their major and only contributor is the Washington DC Americans for Prosperity, 1726 M St., 10th Floor, Washington, DC, 20036.   Total funding from the national organization is $2900.00.  They have yet to meet the deadline for reporting their spending of this money.  No local contributions from Chatham County residents have been given to this referendum committee to date.  It’s a total out of county and out of state organization so much for local grassroots organizing.

Finally the only home grown operation against the LTT, is Max Cotton’s NOTT Referendum Committee.  This is Bunkey, daja vu all over again operation.  He reports anonymous aggregate contributions of $521.00 even though six of them are fifty dollars and under the new reporting rules these donor are required to be identified.  Here are the other donors:

Chatham County Farm Bureau, Inc.             $5000.00
Roy Hipple                                               $200.00
Lindou Inc, Apex, NC                                 $500.00
Mrs. Welford Harris                                    $100.00
Richard Bradley                                         $100.00
Jerry Harris Realty                                     $100.00
Chatham County Republican Party                $500.00
Herbert Gaines                                          $100.00

Here are the funders of the anti-LTT effort to date. Who knows who will appear in the reports after the election.  I must say that it’s an interesting use of Farm Bureau’s money. 

[gooberpea]

Interesting facts Analyst!  The bigger question that is burning in my mind is.....who is funding the pro-LTT campaign? 

[Analyst]

The pro-LTT strategy is orchestrated by George Lucier, Pat Barnes and Mike Cross.

[chathambooks]

The pro-LTT strategy is orchestrated by George Lucier, Pat Barnes and Mike Cross.

Ya - at taxpayer's expense.

I am paying to lobby for a tax I don't want!

[Analyst]

Chathbooks,

Actually, Lucier paid for a full page add in the local rag with his own money.  Sort of putting your wallet where you mouth is rather unique in your circles where you rather have Washington DC special interests  like AFP fund your cause because you have little local support.

Where is your public forum for Pittsboro candidates on Nov. 2nd. Is the public invited? Or is it imaginary?
A

[chathambooks]

Imaginary

[Analyst]

Chathbooks,

Where is your imaginary forum said to be on Nov. 2nd?

Perhaps a secret meeting avoids embarrassing questions to the incumbents that have given Pittsboro its water and waste water treatment problems.

It is far better that they stay out of sight since they have an indefensible record to stand on for re-election.

A

[chathambooks]

You need to lighten up.

Our members have received their invitations If you were a member of CCV-AFP, you would know!

[The Duffster]

It needs to be pointed out that in response to someone who said the CCV endorsed candidates were afraid to speak in public, you responded with "Oh please - enough already! We are so tired of this.
Bradshaw, Cotton, Brooks, and Bryant have been invited to attend the Conservative Voter's forum on Nov 2."

Are you now saying that they will be speaking to a private, invitations-only meeting?

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

The question of who is funding the pro tax increase is easy. It is being funded by we the taxpayers of the county without our permission or our approval. Our commissioners have been using county funds for this tax increase effort.

[Analyst]

I can sympathize with your fear of having your candidates respond to questions from the public.

Given their records it makes it necessary to run a "candidate forum" by invitation only. 

If I were in your shoes I would do every thing I could to keep real people away from being able to question Byant, Brooks, Harrington, Cotten and Bardshaw for fear of what they would say. 

It's a good plan to protect your candidates.

 

[chathambooks]

The commissioners can't even tell us how much this "special" election of theirs is costing us!!

They want to take our hard earned equity from us and they are spending our TAX DOLLARS to make sure they can!

We won't let them.

[Analyst]

Given your slate of candidates I can fully understand the need for a secret by invitation only rally.

Good luck with your approach. 

[gooberpea]

Okay...I'm confused.....if this thread about the LTT or candidate forums.  If you would like to discuss something other than LTT, maybe someone should start another thread or get over themselves. 

[integrityticket]

because you have little local support.

This is a false statement.

The county's own survey of Chatham County citizens shows that most people do NOT support the LTT.

To say otherwise is patently a regressive analyst lie.

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