Can I ask a questions about donations?

[daughtersrus]

Is it legal for someone to make donations to the "person" running for office instead of the campaign?

I've searched and must not be entering the right words because I'm having a hard time finding an answer.

We've got some things going on locally that just don't seem right. Donations that have been said to have been made but are not showing on campaign disclosure forms.

I don't want this thread to be political. I don't want to debate, I'm just trying to find the law(s) that apply.

If it's against the rules, I'm very sorry and ask that the Mods please remove the thread.

 

[eliza61]

Whew, depends. You've got a couple of things to find out.
Can you contact your state or county board of elections, that's a good resource.

1) do you want to know if it's legal or Tax deductable. 2 different things.
2) Many state board of elections prohibit personal donations to candidates to prevent any appearance of "pay for play". If you personally give him money, he does a favor for you. that's usually a no-no.
3) If he's running a legit campaign there should be some sort of financial records submitted. ask to see them. he should have a campaign manager/director and a finance director.

4) I'm a firm believe in "Gut" check. If it doesn't feel right or some thing seems fishy, don't give them your dough.

 

[daughtersrus]

Whew, depends. You've got a couple of things to find out.
Can you contact your state or county board of elections, that's a good resource.

1) do you want to know if it's legal or Tax deductable. 2 different things.
2) Many state board of elections prohibit personal donations to candidates to prevent any appearance of "pay for play". If you personally give him money, he does a favor for you. that's usually a no-no.
3) If he's running a legit campaign there should be some sort of financial records submitted. ask to see them. he should have a campaign manager/director and a finance director.

4) I'm a firm believe in "Gut" check. If it doesn't feel right or some thing seems fishy, don't give them your dough.

Thanks for the info.

I'm looking at the legality of it, not taxes. I've checked the online campaign disclosure forms and the donations aren't being reported there. Some are saying that the money was given to the candidate directly and not the campaign and that just doesn't seem right to me.

I will try and call our state board of election and see if they can help.

Thanks!

 

[eliza61]

Thanks for the info.

I'm looking at the legality of it, not taxes. I've checked the online campaign disclosure forms and the donations aren't being reported there. Some are saying that the money was given to the candidate directly and not the campaign and that just doesn't seem right to me.

I will try and call our state board of election and see if they can help.

Thanks!

Good for you. Philadelphia and some counties in NJ outlawed the practiced. Just to much room for unethical behaviour. Even if it isn't illegal, I would want to know how the donations were being spent. Is it truly on the campaign or for a yacht in the Mediterrian.
Good luck

 

[Carly_Roach]

Good for you. Philadelphia and some counties in NJ outlawed the practiced. Just to much room for unethical behaviour. Even if it isn't illegal, I would want to know how the donations were being spent. Is it truly on the campaign or for a yacht in the Mediterrian.
Good luck

I would think that you can give money to any human being on earth that you want to give it to, which includes giving money to someone running for office. However, eliza's right about the appearance of impropriety and ethics issues.

I suppose my rule of thumb would be if I knew someone personally and liked them enough to donate to their favorite charity, then that's how much cash I might give them to support their candidacy. However, most of the people I've known who run for office typcially separate their donations from their personal money for the reasons stated above.