correction: The Harvey Johnson campaign's [48-hour reports are included in this PDF already.][1]
And I just got an email from Jackson City Clerk Brenda Press (at 10:15 p.m. on a Friday!) confirming that Margaret Barrett-Simon just file her report on Tuesday.
Meantime, can I say how thrilled I am to be getting emails this late on a Friday confirming that these reports are in?! Imagine a Jackson where all candidates take these filings, and the pubic scrutiny, seriously. We can do this, Jackson.
Remember this: It is your right to ask candidates any damn thing you want and to push for public disclosure. Do not let anyone tell you any differently. They are public servants, or trying to be.
I do agree with the need for proof. We are drowning over here trying to factcheck all the rumors flying around because it's the responsible thing to do.
We're told that Startec bought a local company here, which had been here a long time, and it still , has the same staff in place. I hate when local companies are owned elsewhere, but this isn't exactly going up to Canada and looking for a company to give money to, as some Lee supporters are characterizing it. Here's what someone with knowledge posted on my Facebook page; I rather suspect this company is shocked at suddenly being a political football:
> Donna, last year the company Stantec > bought out the company ABMB. I don't > know if you are familiar with them, > but ABMB has been in Jackson for many > years. They have the same good folks > working in Jackson now as they have > had all this time. This is a good, > solid engineering firm with an > excellent reputation. I just happened > to speak with a colleague there. ABMB > was in Jackson for 27 years before > being bought by Stantec.
Thabian, that is the first we've heard that Lee lied about growing up in Georgetown. Didn't he live there and go to school in JPS until middle school before moving to Rankin County? If so, that can be characterized as "growing up in," right?
As for the 20/20 PAC, you are correct that we still do not have its PAC report. I'm about to blog about the saga that has been this week.
You seem to be right, Thabian, about Stantec having a local office. They've [been registered with the secretary of state's office since 2005][1], and their office is on South President downtown. I assume they pay rent and pay people and taxes here.
It is disingenuous for Lee supporters to complain about them being based out of the state. [Everyone of the businesses that are suing the Lee family's Mississippi Products Inc.][2] are located out of state. So it does factually seem to be a weird thing to campaign on.
Tyrone Hendrix, Lee's campaign manager, called Tyler back a little bit ago and refused to give us backup materials for the above allegations. So we will continue to investigate them on our own and get back to y'all.
Thank you for your patience. Ours, on the other hand, is running thin for allegations without information to back it up. Hearing a lot of those this week.
donnaladd says...
correction: The Harvey Johnson campaign's [48-hour reports are included in this PDF already.][1]
And I just got an email from Jackson City Clerk Brenda Press (at 10:15 p.m. on a Friday!) confirming that Margaret Barrett-Simon just file her report on Tuesday.
Meantime, can I say how thrilled I am to be getting emails this late on a Friday confirming that these reports are in?! Imagine a Jackson where all candidates take these filings, and the pubic scrutiny, seriously. We can do this, Jackson.
Remember this: It is your right to ask candidates any damn thing you want and to push for public disclosure. Do not let anyone tell you any differently. They are public servants, or trying to be.
[1]: http://jacksonfreepress.media.clients.e…
On Lumumba, 20/20 PAC End Week in Campaign Reporting Hall of Shame
Posted 3 May 2013, 10:28 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Margaret Barrett-Simon's folks say she was one of the first to file one Tuesday a.m. We will update the list above as soon as we get a copy.
On Lumumba, 20/20 PAC End Week in Campaign Reporting Hall of Shame
Posted 3 May 2013, 7:25 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
I like Jeff a lot, too, and respect him on so many levels, even if campaigns aren't his finest moments. ;-)
On Re-elect Harvey Johnson Jr.
Posted 3 May 2013, 5:43 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
I do agree with the need for proof. We are drowning over here trying to factcheck all the rumors flying around because it's the responsible thing to do.
On Rating the Streets
Posted 3 May 2013, 4:22 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Marcus,
We're told that Startec bought a local company here, which had been here a long time, and it still , has the same staff in place. I hate when local companies are owned elsewhere, but this isn't exactly going up to Canada and looking for a company to give money to, as some Lee supporters are characterizing it. Here's what someone with knowledge posted on my Facebook page; I rather suspect this company is shocked at suddenly being a political football:
> Donna, last year the company Stantec
> bought out the company ABMB. I don't
> know if you are familiar with them,
> but ABMB has been in Jackson for many
> years. They have the same good folks
> working in Jackson now as they have
> had all this time. This is a good,
> solid engineering firm with an
> excellent reputation. I just happened
> to speak with a colleague there. ABMB
> was in Jackson for 27 years before
> being bought by Stantec.
On Rating the Streets
Posted 3 May 2013, 3:50 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Thabian, that is the first we've heard that Lee lied about growing up in Georgetown. Didn't he live there and go to school in JPS until middle school before moving to Rankin County? If so, that can be characterized as "growing up in," right?
As for the 20/20 PAC, you are correct that we still do not have its PAC report. I'm about to blog about the saga that has been this week.
On UPDATED: Fact Checking Lee
Posted 3 May 2013, 3:40 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
[More on Stantec in Mississippi and Louisiana.][1]
[And its projects in both states.][2]
[1]: http://abmb.com/about
[2]: http://abmb.com/projects
On Rating the Streets
Posted 3 May 2013, 11:33 a.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
You seem to be right, Thabian, about Stantec having a local office. They've [been registered with the secretary of state's office since 2005][1], and their office is on South President downtown. I assume they pay rent and pay people and taxes here.
It is disingenuous for Lee supporters to complain about them being based out of the state. [Everyone of the businesses that are suing the Lee family's Mississippi Products Inc.][2] are located out of state. So it does factually seem to be a weird thing to campaign on.
[1]: https://business.sos.state.ms.us/corp/s…
[2]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…
On Rating the Streets
Posted 3 May 2013, 11:19 a.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
In case you missed them, Johnson is clearly referring to these stories we did over the last week:
[Lee's Legal Troubles Multiply][1]
[Jonathan Lee Defensive Over Business Troubles][2]
When we can find anything to link to about the Lee allegations of Johnson's, we will link to those as well.
[1]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…
[2]: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/20…
On Lee and Johnson At It Again
Posted 2 May 2013, 7:14 p.m. Suggest removal
donnaladd says...
Tyrone Hendrix, Lee's campaign manager, called Tyler back a little bit ago and refused to give us backup materials for the above allegations. So we will continue to investigate them on our own and get back to y'all.
Thank you for your patience. Ours, on the other hand, is running thin for allegations without information to back it up. Hearing a lot of those this week.
More soon, we promise.
On Lee and Johnson At It Again
Posted 2 May 2013, 6:58 p.m. Suggest removal