Follow the money

The toughest question asked at the Tower-Waldo Neighborhood Forum Saturday had to have been about campaign finance. Someone wanted to know where the money was coming from for our campaigns. If we have been raising money in Johnson County, other parts of the city, and if so didn't we feel that projected an image of impropriety or an undue influence? Pretty much the gist of the question was "why would you take money from people that don't have a direct stake in your candidacy?" I could feel the squirming as the question was being asked. All four candidates, myself included admitted that we had raised money from outside the 4th District. Some a little more than others. One candidate admitted straight out that he had been working Johnson County and raised "a lot" of money there, but no that would have no influence on him. Hmmm. Okay... I came clean and admitted that I had taken money from a major out-of-state influence and that person would indeed have some affect on me. Mother-in-laws are like that. I'd say two of us had no problems answering that question comfortably and the other two had to do some fancy talking. Then the next day the Sunday paper hits my lawn with a story about campaign contributions to Councilman Fairfield from lawyers directly involved with the old plea agreement system in Municipal Court. I wonder if the person that asked the forum question knew anything about that article coming out? I didn't see Bob Woodward there but it was a pretty big crowd. In my opinion, appearance is a huge part of maintaining public trust. I can't make a judgement on Councilman Fairfield. I don't know whether the timing of those donations was a coincidence or not. But in politics, appearance is crucial. Whether your money comes from traffic ticket lawyers and you're voting on ticket plea agreements, or you're running for an in-district seat but bringing in thousands of dollars from outside the district. I keep thinking back to Hal Holbrook in All The President's Men. "Follow the money..."