.jpg)
Glamour's Women of the Year
UD vs. Northern Kentucky
Magic visits with area students
Big donors helped pay ex-county GOP chief's salary
Documents show 13 donors contributed $688,000 between 1998 and 2003; Jacobson was paid $382,925 during that period.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
RELATED:
> Former GOP chairman denies soliciting contributions
> Big donors helped pay ex-county GOP chief's salary
> Comment on this story
State Sen. Jeff Jacobson wrested huge secret contributions from big donors like former Iams Co. owner Clay Mathile during Jacobson's time as chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party, then pocketed a lion's share of the money for his work as chairman, according to party documents obtained by the Dayton Daily News.
Thirteen people contributed $688,000 to the county party's secret operating fund between 1998 and December 2003, when Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., stepped down as chairman, according to the documents.
Extras
The fund, since outlawed, was used to pay Jacobson's salary, bonuses and interest totaling $378,534 — or 55 percent of the total contributed by the big donors — during that period.
The same people contributed generously to Jacobson's state legislative campaigns, oftentimes the maximum allowed by law. Since 1995, Jacobson's campaign committee received $160,370 in contributions from the 13 donors, including Mathile; his wife, Mary; and businessmen M.O. Diggs and John W. Berry Jr.
"It looks like there are backroom deals being cooked up," said Mark Owens, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. "When the public sees that, they say, 'Are they going to get special treatment from the legislator because they essentially bought him, secretly bought him?' "
Jacobson said he was not swayed by the money.
"I have never had anyone suggest that is the case," Jacobson said. "Nor at any point in time was I influenced by any money the party received or that my campaign received."
Jacobson said the secret contributions and payments were legal and the donors simply wanted to support their local county party. The law has since changed and parties must now report all contributions for operations.
"First of all the small amount that I got out of any donation that people made versus the amount of work I performed, I think it's not an issue," Jacobson said. "I know I was never overpaid."
Comments
By Steve
June 30, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
I guess DDN cannot find enough to write about other than a party leader getting paid $45000 per year. Perhaps thier math is weak. $400,000 is a lot of money but over 13 years it is a low average payment. I guarantee you that the $350,000 Bill Clinton gets for each public speaking event he is hired for is funnelled too him by many of his party cronies. I did not get the DDN the day this story broke because I wanted as small of a subscription as I could get to get the funnies on Sunday. I Know why
By mkat
June 29, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
The Dayton Daily News is beating a dead horse. Wasn’t this story reported years ago after the Blackwell investigation? Maybe trash like this and the obvious bias of this newspaper is why subscriptions are down. Just an idea? Maybe the DDN needs to smarten up. You’ve lost the attention of a good deal of the Dayton community as a result. Who cares what you think because NOBODY is paying attention.
By Jacobsonwatcher
June 28, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Why would anyone be a bit surprised? It is NOT the amount of money over a five year period…I would tend to agree with Jacobson that he wasn’t overpaid. It’s the means by which the money was acquired. Jeff Jacobson is just another political hack clown that will line his pockets by treading the tenuous line between corruption and legitimacy, dipping his toes on either side as he finds convenient. You keep voting for him…you get what you deserve.
By joe
June 28, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
This really is horrible reporting. very misleading. Even for the Dayton Daily Worker.
By mike
June 28, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
Crooked like other Republicans. No wonder I left the party. At least he’s a local guy. Oops, he lives in Columbus.
By GivemeaBreak!
June 28, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hiding the payment of $450,000 to the party chairman is no big deal huh? I must have found the only handful of people that can possibly think that! By the way “Danny”, most county party chairman do the job for free. I’ve never heard of any county chairman ANYWHERE making even close to $450,000 over ANY amount of time. Dennis Lieberman (former Dem chair) was a more successful chair than crook Jacobsen could ever dream of being, and he was never paid a dime.
By JIM
June 28, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
WHAT ELSE WOULD EXPECT FROM A REPUBLICANS.
By Jennifer
June 28, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Over 13 years, he made less than $35,000/year. What’s the big deal?!? If anyone should be questioned, it should be Mr. White.
By Jennifer
June 28, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Over 13 years, he made less than $35,000/year. What’s the big deal?!? If anyone should be questioned, it should be Mr. White.
By John
June 28, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Republicans give prostitutes a bad name.
By John
June 28, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Republicans give prostitutes a bad name.
By Cathy
June 28, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
It’s not a question of the money. The issue is why they felt a need to keep this a secret.
By Chad
June 28, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
I first read this story and couldn’t believe how much money he was paid, it actually made me mad, but then saw that is was what he made for 5 years.
What a p**s poor way to report a story. Totally deceptive and misleading. This is simply journalism trash. Lynn Hulsey should go back to the frier at McDonalds.
By Danny
June 28, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
A little over $63K a year. That’s about the normal salary for someone to run an outfit like that. No big deal in my opinion.