Reno Campaigns Financed by Developers?

I am so tired of hearing this story!

Campaigns today are expensive. They wouldn’t be if people paid attention, but they don’t. Candidates have to take the message to them via TV, Radio, etc.

The size of the check has nothing to do with the amount of influence the contributor will get for writing it.

The people that try and make it an issue are the candidates that don’t get the checks. Do you think a populist, C.A.V.E candidate like Scott Kelley would turn down $50,000 from the construction community. I seriously doubt it.

Candidates have to raise money. Who do they get it from? People that have money. In Nevada that casinos and developers. Get over it people.

We could also take a devil’s advocate position and say this is more a defensive measure. Or, for the even more cynical, a shakedown from the other side.

Of all the businesses around, one can say none are at the mercy or whims of local government more than developers. They are a deep-pockets industry that politicians know they can tap a lot more easily than scrounging up $10 contributions from individual voters. In developer eyes, do they really want their project coming up for a vote with people they didn’t help to get elected.

Is there any doubt that if sustainable growth advocates had been giving the same amount of money as developers to candidates over the past 25 years that our region would look substantially different than it does today?

I don’t blame the candidates—this is the unseemly system they are forced to deal with. But there are alternatives.

The concern about the influence of money in politics seems to be inversely related to one’s benefit from the current system.

For a look at the Nevada political money situation, go here:
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/state_overview.phtml?si=200633

For documentation on historic and current problems, go here:
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/state_overview.phtml?si=200433

For the solution, go here:
http://www.publicampaign.org/

well hello! as Ann Landers was fond of saying “wake up and smell the coffee”
or “you’re not in kansas anymore”
money is the lifeblood of politics. sad but true. no money. no funny.
but a little creativity, and technology can make up for the difference, sometimes.
you already are part way there- a popular blog, read by people either like you, or who likely would vote for you.
do you have profiles on myspace, facebook, etc? what about making homegrown commercials, and posting them to youtube?
are you constantly “mining” for valid e-mail addresses? do you have a pay-pal, or other account set up for receiving money? do you advertise your political website, and/or blog in local smaller “entertainment”/free tabloid newspapers? or buy a few display ads- in the sports, or lifestyle sections? postings at supermarkets? even blazing pink 8×10’s tacked up to lightpoles- read “renodiscontent.com”
vote for Myrna, whatever? get a group of “merry pranksters”, and have fun performing acts of street theatre- issue related. tax time is coming- have a lady godiva ride a horse downtown, or through carson city( with bikini/etc- legally)or a “tea party”. search all your public meetings, and cable listings, and speak out during the citizen comment section of the meetings whenever appropriate, on relevant topics, or current local issues. preferable, have several of your comrades do the same. gather anit-property tax petitions, and submit them. work the press for “earned media” whenever possible. make freinds, and contacts within the media, and be a reliable source on topics of interest- get quoted.
be relentless. singleminded. never stop. its a 24-7/365 enterprise. its a continous campaign.
comment on blogs. track your efforts on google, and google news. pose naked( always gets attention for females)tastefully.
ask everybody for contributions. study campaign finance and related election laws. visit your county election board/votere registration with questions. learn how to file campaign finance /complaints. be the annoying squeaky wheel.
keep the “powers that be on their toes”. register voters door to door, based on the demographics of your party. have a “voters registration drive”.
intelligence, creativity, determination, education, and technology- thinking outside the box will more than offset the moneyed interests. read campaign finance reports- ask the developers for contributions- find out if there are things that would be cool to do- not just development for developments sake. visit your local college, and recruit campaign volunteers through the colege paper.
get so you are a one nema entity- “Myrna the minx”, just like britney, paris, madonna, etc. its a 24 7 shameless self-promotion gig, same as hollywood. avoid getting arrested, but if you do, make the most of it politically. make that an issue- hows that for a start. do all this, and your opponents will have to raise (gamble) so much money, and create so much uncertainty, it will keep them up nights, worrying. priceless! make a political issue of the obscene amounts of money they are spending to “buy” the election, at what cost to the people. make their positives into negatives. theres a hundred ways to win, if you play your hand to maximum effect. just like poker, you can bluff. just be honest, and keep your records as accurate as you can. dont bs people, just tell it like it is- politically speaking. I a personal sales job, selling yourself. surround yourself with intelligent people, and study up on your isues, and be able to rebut your opponents.
think like Hillary, or dina. as ginger rogers said- a woman can do everything a man can do, backwards, and in high heels.
now go out there, and get them!win one for the gipper!oops- and dont talk wel about ronald reagan, unless in jest. giggle.
visit my blog:
http://x-wire.blogspot.com

$7000?! I’ve gotten people to give me $7000 before, and for much more questionable purposes.

If developers have the council in their back pockets due to campaign contributions, please explain to me the Positano decision.

Yes Tom Clark, I would turn down a $50,000 check.