A LESSON IN HOW POLITICS REALLY WORKS

December 1, 2006

For some time, watchdog has been gathering campaign financial disclosure statements from the Shelby County Election Commission. With the recent scandal involving Edmund Ford and Rickey Peete I thought this would be a good time to display some of the information. I will publish additional information later but will start with the income and expenditure reports for the October 9, 2003 election of the City Council for Rickey Peete. As you know he won.

The expenditure side has some fascinating entries.
• Shep Wilbun Legal Defense Fund $250
• City of Memphis Credit Union, $4000 for entertainment tickets
• James Sellers Legal Defense Fund $1000
• American Scandia Fund, Boston, Ma, $34,979.03 to cover market loss on investment in mutual fund, net loss $23,016.99.
• Committee to Elect Michael Hooks $1000
• Committee to Elect Roscoe Dixon $1500
• James Sellers, constituent services, coordinator, political consultant, $6850
• James Sellers, political strategist consultant, campaign coordinator, $5000
• Roscoe Dixon Senatorial Campaign $400
• Janice Fullilove Campaign Donation $500
• James Sellers, political strategist and consultant $6500
• MNBA, entertainment tickets for constituents $3500

The donation side has a lot of familiar names.
• Kathleen and Dick Hackett $250
• Mr. L. R. Jalenak Jr $150
• Robert Fogelman $300
• Sam Dattel $250
• Gail Schledwitz $1000
• Mrs. Anne Stokes $1000
• Joe Cooper $250
• J R Hyde III $1000
• Dan Turley Jr. $250
• Arnold Perl $250
• Ricky Wilkins $250
• Robert Lanier $250
• Rick Masson $250
• Michael Heisley $500
• Federal Express Political Action $500
• Shelby County Election Commission $100
• Time Warner Communications Employee PAC $1250
• Gregory Duckett $250
• Deidre Malone $400
• Henry Turley $1250
• Arnold Perl $1000
• Barbara Hyde $1000
• Andy Cates $500
• Michael Turley $1000
• Memphis Electric Sign Association $1000
• Practically all the signs companies in town $$$$
• John Elkington $1000

I guess they all were interested in promoting good honest government. More later.

Click here to see how Rickey's campaign money was spent

Click here to see who donated to Rickey's campaign for good government