Local Dark Money: Citizens United meets Main Street in Sarasota and Manatee, Florida
Most voters realize that government officials are influenced by campaign donations and lobbying. But as Antunes writes,
What is new is how PAC money - Political Aciton Committee money - has found its way into local elections. In Sarasota County, Florida, where I live, it's been a game-changer....While voters may underestimate the importance of local elections, special interest groups don't make that mistake. Here in Southwest Florida those special intersts tend to be developers looking for local government to pick up the tab for their project infrastructure, or rubber stamp development applications. Special interests may include corporate charter school advocates looking to support public schools.
The well-researched graphics illustrate the interrelated complexities of the PAC donations and expenditure network. Here is an example showing a portion of the funding stream for attack mailers against Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash back in 2012.
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| Image from Local Dark Money: Citizens United meets Main Street in Sarasota and Manatee, Florida |
Antunes follows the trail of Dark Money that has poured into specific local elections in the years since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates in 2010. Click here to view the e-book.
