Arshinkoff Fights Back Against Coughlin
From Michael McIntyre in the PD (Michael’s picture, it seems, was taken while he was squinting into the sun.):
Arshinkoff, in his 30th year as party boss, plans to fight back “vigorously” and pointed out that every seat in his party’s central committee is full, the party raises money and contributes mightily to candidates, helped get Summit County’s Mary Taylor elected state auditor and continues to battle in a Democrat-dominated county he called a political “Ft. Apache.” As for not challenging some Dems? “We’re always the underdog. You have to pick your spots.
I have no doubt this will be a vigorous fight, but I’ve heard from a handful of sources that Chairman Arshinkoff promised a great deal of money to Mary Taylor before the 2006 elections that he didn’t follow through, so the Ohio GOP had to take up the slack. He certainly helped her campaign, but I’m sure there are plenty of sore feelings about broken promises.
Also, Mary Taylor is doing an awesome job as auditor. But I’ve never been comfortable with Arshinkoff’s role in Taylor’s husband’s construction business He is a lobbyist I believe he is on retainer as a lobbyist or consultant for his business, but having to pay the chairman a fee to bring work to Mr. Taylor’s business feels too Tony Soprano-ish. I hope I’m wrong.
In addition, regardless of your opinion of Senator Coughlin or Chairman Arshinkoff, Coughlin’s timing couldn’t be better, considering that Arshinkoff is more politically isolated than he has ever been and is much more vulnerable than he would have been if the 2006 elections weren’t a disaster for Republicans.
I absolutely admire hardball politics and give anyone credit who can elect Republicans in a Democrat-leaning county. But times have changed, and the need for new blood in the party is strong. This will be a fascinating battle to watch.
Northerner said,
Wrote on August 18, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Campaign finance records show that Alex raised about $100,000 for Taylor. Word north of columbus is that the Stark County organization let Mary down. Promised $120,000, gave her $30,000. You might want to check your facts, Matt.
Matthew said,
Wrote on August 18, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Whatever the promised amount was was greater than whatever he raised for Taylor, and the party had to bail him out. I know this to be a fact.
It was a poisonous political atmosphere that certainly would make it tough to fund raise, but mentioning the broken promise was important, as its a fact the PD probably couldn’t get Republican insiders to talk about on the record.
Greg Helms said,
Wrote on August 18, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
I agree with your sentiments Matt. Hardball politics is a fascinating spectator sport, and this is going to be an interesting one to watch.
My thoughts on Alex’s work in the past can best be summed up by Wes Mantooth, when he said, “Deep down, I pure straight hate you, but d****t, I respect you.”
Northerner said,
Wrote on August 18, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Actually, of the $500,000 the State Party “gave” Mary Taylor, she had to raise $250,000. That way Bennett could make it look like he’d given her more. Typical Bennett. The Summit Co. Party, included Mary on its budget and gave to her direct. It’s public record, Matt.
Joe American said,
Wrote on August 18, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
Matt, Arshinkoff’s brother-in-law is her chief of staff. Craig Fulton csndidate for U.S. House last year was promissed $100,000 by him personlly and it fell to $23,000.00 the following day. He likes to have a luxurios life style on our expense.
Livingston Bramble said,
Wrote on August 19, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Taylor picked Arshinkoff’s brother because he also worked for Betty and others. He knows the job, Columbus, and all the nuts and bolts. Why don’t you compare the job Taylor and her staff have done so far compared to all the other new statewide office holders? They seem to be a pretty competant bunch.
In addition, campaign dollars are a scarce resource, somebeody explain to me why in God’s name Alex would give Fulton a penny when he had absolutely no chance to beat Sutton? Also, the U.S. House cut Fulton off because of horrid polling numbers. He should not have even received 23,000.
Regarding Alex lobbying, Doug Preiss, Bob Bennett, and many chairmen also lobby. Hold them all to the same standard.
Joe American said,
Wrote on August 19, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
This discussion is about Alex not the other boob Bobby. Alex has the habit of making sure family and “close” friends get a job before anyone else does such as Alexes brother works for judge Spicer in Akron, kind of reminds me of Dann who hired a relative of Brunners. I agree that Mary and her staff are doing an excellent job for the people of this state and she is a good woman and the smear campaign that the Akron Beacon Journal tried to do to her was completely uncalled for and the plus is she is qualified for the position being a CPA unlike the incompetent idiot that she ran against last year her arrogance was astounding. Scarce source? one year he sends 2 million to Washington and another he sends 1.5 and he cannot keep at least a half a million in his county to help out local candidates? that tells me he is more interested in knocking on the door of the Whitehouse or the Govenor’s mansion and hearing “come on in Alex” than helping the locals there in Akron. Craig had good polling numbers until the crooks on our team got caught and rightfully went to jail and then the polls plumetted, was that Craig’s fault? Alex like Bobby are in denial but the writing is on the wall and this has to be done or they are going to lose more people than ever out of that local party, this you cannot deny if you do then you are that blinded by him or you work for him one of the two. For the good of his organization in my opinion he should step down.
Northerner said,
Wrote on August 19, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Joe: The sad truth is that most people who give tens of thousands of dollars to politics are more interested in who is the governor or attorney general, than they are in a congressman, judge, or even a state senator. Because local political parties cannot give funds directly to federal candidates, like Craig Foltin, federal candidates are at the mercy of a donor. If a donor wants to support a candidate for governor rather than a candidate for congress, they will do so.