RSSStrange Politics: Tracing Campaign Donations Part I
Jul 26
Campaign Finance, Paul Vallas, Stefan Pryor, Steven Adamowski campaign donations 18 Comments
Examining who someone gives political donations to will often tell you a fair amount about their relationships, ideology, politics or priorities.
Now that the 2012 campaign season is kicking into high gear, we’ll begin a new semi-regular segment called…
Wait, What? They Gave to Whom?
Somewhat tongue in cheek, we’ll start by examining the contributions records of some of Connecticut’s leading “education reformers.”
Paul G. Vallas, Part-Time Superintendent of Schools, Bridgeport
Vallas doesn’t give very often. In fact, according to the national website followthemoney.org, he has only given one donation at the state level in the past decade. The recipient was himself, the amount was $100,000 and it was to pay off the debt of his losing campaign for governor of Illinois in 2002.
Steven Adamowski, Special Master, Windham and New London
Adamowski also doesn’t donate often. He also has only one state level contribution of record and it occurred in 2010. The amount was $250 and the recipient was the losing candidate for governor in Connecticut, Tom Foley. [Wow, imagine the powerful positions he would have gotten had he donated to Dan Malloy].
Stefan Pryor, Commissioner of Education
Pryor is a bit more active, he has made a total of two campaign contributions. One recently for $250 to Rob Bonta, a Democrat who is running in the 18th Assembly District of California and a contribution in 2010 for $1,000 to the winning candidate for State Treasurer in Rhode Island, Gina Raimondo.
Dacia Toll, CEO, Achievement First
Like all good CEOs, Toll donates more often. In fact, more than 25 donations to state level candidates show up, including 2010 campaign contributions of $100 to Hartford State Representative and charter school advocate Doug McCrory, $100 to New Haven State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield and $100 to New Haven State Senator Toni Harp. Toll also gave $1,750 to that State Treasurer candidate in Rhode Island and $250 to a losing auditor candidate in Ohio. Others she has given to in the past include State Representative Andrew Fleischmann, losing gubernatorial candidate John DeStefano and winning gubernatorial candidate Jodi Rell.
In federal level races, Toll has also given to Richard Blumenthal, Rosa DeLauro and Massachusetts Democrat Alan Khazei.
Next time we’ll examine a different set of Connecticut public figures. If you have a recommendation as to whose donation patterns should be spot-lighted here, send the names on in.
